Convert steals church musical instruments, money

A 21-year-old man, Waziri Washa, has been arrested by the police for allegedly stealing musical instruments, among other property, of a Pentecostal church in the Orile area of Lagos.

The incident happened on Wednesday at the Christ Kingdom Citizen International Church.

Our correspondent learnt that Washa, an indigene of Adamawa State, had purportedly converted from Islam to Christianity in 2007.

He was said to have claimed that he was being persecuted for his faith and relocated to Lagos in 2013.

Washa was said to have found the banner of the church on the road and called the number of the pastor, who gave him the address of the church.

PUNCH Metro learnt that on getting into the church, the suspect was warmly welcomed after he also claimed to be a musician, seeking to expand his gift.

The suspect was said to have claimed he had no dwelling place and was accommodated by the church.

However, on the fateful day around 12.30pm, the police said Washa stealthily entered the church premises and stole a keyboard, a pair of drum sticks, piano electric adapter, a soft pedal, a computer mouse, a ministry file, a visafone internet modem, a DSTV mobile, a black suit, a pair of shirt and tie and two phone power bank chargers.

Washa also reportedly made away with N10, 000 belonging to the ministry.

The police said the suspect took the items and hid them in the house of his friend, one Samson Hamman, also an Adamawa State indigene from Mubi.

Both men were arrested and arraigned on Monday before a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting at Ebute Meta on three counts of stealing and receiving.

The charges read in part, “That you, Waziri Washa, Samson Hamman, on September 3, 2014 at about 12.30pm, at Christ Kingdom Citizen International Church, situates at Coker Road, Coker Orile, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully enter into the above named church with intent to commit felony to wit; stealing.

“That you did steal one Yamaha Potatone Electronic keyboard, valued N100,000, a pair of drum sticks valued N500, a piano electric adapter valued N1,500, one piano soft pedal valued N1,500, one computer mouse pad valued N10,000, one visafone internet modem valued N5,000, one ministry file valued N20, one DSTV mobile valued N15,000, a pair of black suit valued N4,000, a pair of shirt and tie valued N2,000, two phone power bank chargers valued N10,000 and the cash sum of N10,000.”

The Orile Police Station, which investigated the matter, said the stolen items were all valued N158, 520.

The offences were said to be punishable under sections 309, 285 and 326 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.

Their defence counsel, R.T. Adeyemi, asked for their bail in liberal terms.

Present in court were the pastor of the church and the Investigating Police Officer.

The Magistrate, Mr. K.O. Ogundare, admitted them to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October 13, 2014.
Culled from Punch Newespaper