Man, 22, in court over alleged phones theft

A 22-year-old bus conductor, Isaiah Olaniyan, was on Tuesday brought before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court charged with the theft of two phones valued at N74,000.

The defendant, whose address was not provided In the charge sheet, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, Donjour Perezi told the court that the defendant committed the offences with others still at large on Jan. 6 at Tipper bus stop, Ketu at 9.30 p.m.

He said that on the fateful day, the complainant, Mr Fashina Alaba, was robbed by the defendant and two others, who took to their heels when a police patrol van was sighted approaching the crime scene.

Perezi said that the defendant was arrested by the members of the patrol team led by Insp. okeke Sunday, while his two accomplices escaped.

He said that the gang had dispossessed their victim of his two phones, a SparkA1 Techno phone valued at N54, 000 and a Samsung phone valued at N20, 000.

The prosecutor said that two accomplices made away with the phones, voters card, a national identity card, a VIO identity card and a Samsung charger, all properties of the complainant.

Perezi said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 287 provides that anyone convicted of stealing is liable to three years jail term.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. A Daodu granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The case was adjourned until Feb. 2 for mention.