Labourer in court over alleged phone theft

Theft

By Vivian Ibobo

Ikeja, Oct. 15, 2019 (NAN) A labourer, Abubakar Garba, 20, on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a phone handset valued at N25,000.

Garba, who resides in Abattoir Cattle Market, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos, is being tried for robbery and damage to which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Patrick Ebri, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Oct. 3 at Abattoir Trailer Park, Oko-Oba, Agege.

He said that the defendant stole the phone of one Mr Sanni Sabiu valued at N25,000.

“Garba used a razor blade to cut the trouser pocket of the complainant while he was sleeping and stole the phone.”

Ebri said that the defendant was armed with two daggers when he stole the complainant’s phone and he damaged the trouser, valued at N15,000, when he used razor blade to cut it.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 339 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 of the law prescribed three years jail term for stealing.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fajana, released the accused on N10,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Fajana said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years tax payment to the state government.

Further hearing has been fixed for Oct. 30. (NAN)

IZU/AIB/TA

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Tajudeen Atitebi