Lagos – An unemployed man, Johnson Peter, 19, was docked on Monday, at a Somolu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing 14 crates of empty beer bottles.

Peter appeared before Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi, for allegedly stealing a total of 168 empty beer bottles.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the lone charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinlabi Adegoke, told the court that the accused broke into a shop and stole the empty bottles valued at N27,000.

He said that the stolen bottles belonged to Mrs Funmi Fowolade.

Adegoke said that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 20, at No. 48, Jagunmolu St., Bariga, Lagos.

“Johnson burgled the shop at midnight and stole the bottles, but he was caught by the vigilante group in the area, “ Adegoke said.

He said that the alleged offence contravened Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The court granted the accused N100,000 bail with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Dec.14 for trial.

In the same court, Osunsanmi heard the case against 21-year-old, Adeoye Johnson, who was charged with attempting to steal a motorcycle worth N95,000.

She granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Dec. 14 for further hearing.

Earlier, Jonhson had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge levelled against him.

The prosecutor had earlier said that Johnson made an attempt to steal the motorcycle on Dec. 1, at Ayodele Str., Bariga, Lagos, from where it was parked.

The prosecutor had told the court that the alleged offence contravened Section 508 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State. (NAN)