By Abimbola Ogunnaike
A 30-year-old tailor, Peter Emmanuel, was on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 arraigned by Police in Lagos before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Mr A.A. Paul for allegedly stealing three cell phones, valued at N320,000.
Emmanuel, who resides at Bar Beach Police Barracks, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, to which he, however, pleaded not guilty.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Ishola, told the court that the defendant committed the offences, with two other persons still at large, on 28 January, 2024 at Shop 8, Bar Beach Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Ishola, the defendant stole two iPhone 7 phones, valued at N85,000 each and an iPhone 8, valued at N150,000 from the shop of the complainant, Chizoba Orunna.
The police prosecutor said that the defendant sneaked into the shop and stole the cell phones while they were kept to be charged.
“It was later discovered through a CCTV camera that it was the defendant who stole the phones,” the prosecutor said.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 287 and 411of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 287 stipulates three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.
The Chief Magistrate, Paul, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with one surety in like sum.
The judge also directed that the surety must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos State Government and then adjourned the case still.
