Two women, Keziah Nathan, 26, and Janet Caleb, 29, were on Wednesday arraigned before the Kaduna Magistrate’s Court for stealing their deceased friend’s wrappers.
The defendants, both residents of Ungwan Boro, Kaduna, were charged with criminal conspiracy and stealing.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The prosecutor, Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on August 10 at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.
Mr Leo said the defendants, who were friends with the late Lydia James, heard of her demise and took advantage of the situation to steal her wrappers.
He said the defendants went to the deceased’s room while pretending to be mourning and stole the deceased’s wrappers worth N870,000.
The prosecutor said that the defendants were about to leave with the wrappers inside a bag they brought when the deceased’s sister caught them and raised the alarm.
Mr Leo said the offences contravened sections 58 and 217 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017, which stipulate two years imprisonment for conspiracy and five years imprisonment for stealing.
The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted them bail of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Mr Emmanuel ordered that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction and civil servants not below GL10.
He adjourned the case until September 15 for hearing.
NAN/PEOPLES GAZETTE