The police in Ebonyi State have arraigned Chikwado Mbam and Chinedu Agbo, both 20 years old, for conspiracy, breaking into a store and stealing cartons of noodles and a packet of cigarettes, among others.

They were arraigned on Monday before an Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court on five counts bordering on conspiracy, store-breaking, felony and stealing.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Mbam Chinedu, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences in the Umuigwe Nkaliki community, Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state, on September 15, 2019.

The suspects, it was gathered, broke into a shop belonging to one Oluchi Ebonyi and allegedly stole some items and cash from the shop.

They were also said to have broken into the shop of one Chikaodiri Nwokpoku and made away with two iTel phones, a Nokia phone, one packet of cigarette and a carton of noodle, among others.

The police prosecutor explained that the offences were punishable under sections 516A (a), 413A(b) and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The first accused person, Mbam, pleaded guilty to the first, second and third counts, while the second suspect, Agbo, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

The Chief Magistrate, Nnenna Onuoha, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 each. The first accused person was asked to produce a surety, who must be a civil servant on Grade Level 10, and must obtain a letter from the traditional ruler of his community, while the second accused person was must produce a civil servant on the same grade level as surety.

PUNCH