THE police on Friday arraigned a 44-year-old trader, Chimezie Olisa, before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of cell phones, valued at N70,000.
Olisa, who is residing at Akoka, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge, bordering on stealing.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye told the court that the defendant committed the offences at 1.30 p.m. on June 10, 2018, at No. 85, St., St. Finbars Road, Akoka.
She said that one Azeez Adegbenga had given Olisa an Infinix Hot 3 phone, valued at N45,000 and an Intel phone, valued at N25,000 for repairs at Ikeja.
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According to her, the defendant collected the phones and ran away, claiming that he had dropped them off at an unnamed phone repair shop.
“My Lord, the complainant gave the suspect his phone and his girlfriend’s phone to repair for him at Ikeja.
“He gave him because he was someone he knew that came to sell clothes at his hair salon shop almost every day.
“After he sent for him, he stopped coming to the salon. It was when Adegbenga reported at the police station that we were able to trace him to his house,” Olaluwoye said.
The offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for the offence of stealing upon conviction.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Chief Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere said that the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until July 10 for mention.
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