A 42-year-old woman, Bukola Solademi, was on Friday arraigned before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan over the alleged theft of carbonated drinks and bottled water valued at N7.688 million. Solademi, however, pleaded not guilty to the one count leveled against her.
The court’s President, Mrs. O.E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum. Owoseni said that the sureties must be blood relatives, show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Oyo State government, present their National Identification Numbers, and provide proof of ownership of landed property in Ibadan. She thereafter adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence between March 2024 and April 2025 at Ibikunle, Ayeye area of Ibadan. Ayeni further said that Solademi stole 12 packs of Bigi water valued at N14,750, 31 packs of Big Eva water valued at N309,400, 176 packs of Mr V water valued at N264,400, 405 packs of Predator valued at N1,903,400, and 14 packs of Schweppes valued at N57,600.
The prosecutor listed other items allegedly stolen by the defendant to include 244 packs of pet coke valued at N882,300, 20 packs of Big American Cola valued at N128,000, 12 packs of Bigi Cola valued at N240,000, 1 carton of Lacasera valued at N1,850,240, 34 cartons of Pepsi valued at N104,100, 100 cartons of Coca-Cola valued at N520,000, and 243 cartons of Fearless valued at N992,300. Also stolen were 75 cartons of Bigi Fanta valued at N240,000, 14 packs of Sosa drink valued at N4,000, and 395 packs of Bigi American Cola valued at N1.422 million.
Ayeni said that the drinks belonged to one Ajoke Ayinde, a businesswoman. According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
