Mother And Son Remanded Over Alleged ₦3.8m Supermarket Th3ft In Ondo

An Osi Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has ordered the remand of an 18-year-old student, Sunday Samuel, and his mother, Blessing Ode, over allegations involving the theft of cash and goods valued at about ₦3.8 million from a supermarket in Iju.

According to reports, the defendants are facing seven counts bordering on conspiracy, breaking into a shop, stealing, obstruction of arrest, concealing a felony and receiving stolen property.

The prosecution alleged that Samuel and other individuals still at large conspired to break into a supermarket belonging to a woman identified as Obafemi Catherine and steal cash and various items.

The prosecution told the court that one alleged incident occurred in 2025 around College Road, Iju, while another was reported to have taken place at about 3am on August 27, 2026, at the supermarket opposite Sabo, Iju.

According to the charge sheet, items allegedly stolen during the incidents included plates, baby products, shoes, clothing, bags, drinks, cosmetics, food items, perfumes, wine and an Itel Android phone, among others.

The prosecution valued the items allegedly taken during the first incident at approximately ₦1.363 million, while those allegedly stolen during the August 27 incident were valued at about ₦2.427 million.

The court was also told that Samuel was allegedly captured on CCTV while breaking into the supermarket.

In counts five to seven, the prosecution accused his mother, Blessing, of allegedly attempting to obstruct his arrest, concealing some of the items and receiving property alleged to have been stolen.

The prosecution alleged that when police officers went to arrest Samuel at his mother’s residence on September 2, 2026, Blessing initially told them that he was not at home.

The charge sheet stated that officers eventually forced open the door to her room, where Samuel was allegedly found lying on her bed.

The prosecution further alleged that Blessing hid some of the items allegedly stolen by her son in a bush and received other items, including an Itel phone, Lisbon drink, CT+ cream, Hummer Code perfume, Skin Doctor cream, Viva Plus detergent and Maggi.

At the resumed proceedings, the prosecutor, Awana Josephine, asked the court to adjourn the matter to allow her to study the case file and prepare witnesses.

Defence counsel, Godwin Bernard, however, urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, assuring that they would remain available throughout the trial.

The prosecution opposed the bail application and asked the court to remand the defendants, describing the mother as a bad influence on her son.

In her ruling, Magistrate Bukola Ojo ordered that both defendants be remanded in custody.

Blessing was remanded at the Ondo Correctional Facility, while her son, Samuel, was sent to the Olokuta Correctional Centre.

The court adjourned the case until September 24, 2026, for hearing. The allegations have not been determined by the court, and the defendants remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.