Man arraigned for allegedly stealing phone

A 29-year-old man, Chike Chukwumezie, was on Tuesday docked before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a mobile phone worth N150, 000.

Chukwumezie, who has no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the defendant allegedly stole the phone from Micheal Yinusa on April 3, at Gospel Close off Adekanbi St., Alapere, Ketu, near Lagos.

Ihiehie said that Yinusa reported the theft at the Alapere Police Station on the same day.

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He told the court that Yinusa was in a bus at about 02:30 p.m. at Alapere when the defendant snatched the phone – a Samsung J7 prime from him through the window of the bus and ran away.

He said that some onlookers pursued the defendant until he was caught but that Chukwumezie had allegedly given the phone to an unknown person.

The prosecutor informed the court that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 411 stipulates two years jail term for conspiracy.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a parent of the accused.

Kubeinje adjourned the case until May 14 for hearing.