Police in Iloirn has arraigned a 53-year-old trader, Samuel Anako of Opo-Malu Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, before an Ilorin Magistrate Court over an alleged burglary.

Anako was accused of breaking into the house of one Moses Rotimi Ajibade of behind Michael Imodu Olulande Area, Ilorin, where he stole valuables.

Items allegedly stolen by the accused include a plastma television valued N50,000, some jewelries valued N50,000, two Nokia handsets valued N28,000 some men wears valued N20,000, a wristwatch valued N7,500, two wedding rings valued N15,000 and a Startime decoder valued N10,000.

The victim had reported the matter at the police station and Startime Communication Limited's office, Ilorin that on December 6, 2012 his house was burgled by unknown thieves, while his properties including a Startime decoder were carted away.

Luck however ran against the accused when the stolen decoder was on February 11, 2013 recovered from one Dele Musa, who took it to Startime office, Ilorin, for activation and he was handed over to the police.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that investigation conducted at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office, Ilorin, revealed that the said Dele Musa innocently bought the stolen decoder from the accused shop at Opo-Malu Area, Ilorin, without any knowledge that it was stolen.

The FIR added that the accused could neither give satisfactory account on how he came about the stolen decoder nor his innocence in the crime.

The FIR added further that the accused was strongly believed to have broken into the victim's house during which he stole the decoder and other valuables valued at N180,000 which were yet to be recovered.

The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of house breaking and theft contrary to Sections 353 and 288 of Penal Code Law.

The prosecutor, Inspector James Odaodu informed the court that investigation into the case was yet to be completed. He left the issue of bail of the accused to the discretion of the court.

The defence counsel, Barrister Toyin M. Onaolapo prayed the court to admit the accused to bail pending the outcome of the investigation. He submitted further that the 1999 Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria still presumed him innocent until contrary is proved.

Ruling on the oral application of the bail of the accused, Magistrate N.K. Ajide stated that the offences for which the accused appeared before it were ordinarily bailable and if the court refuses his bail it would amount to pre-trial punishment.

Consequently, the court admitted the accused to bail with the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum and adjourned the case till March 6 for further mention.