A 23-year-old student, Arafat Ayoola, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with snatching
two phones worth N200,000 in the traffic.
Ayoola, whose address was not provided, is facing charges of conspiracy and stealing.
Police Prosecutor Godwin Awase alleged that the accused committed the offences on March 2 in Ikeja.
He said the accused and one other person still at large conspired to steal two phones valued at N200,000, property of Mr Kennedy Okereke.
“The accused stole the complainant’s 6S plus iPhone valued at N120,000 and a Samsung Note 8 worth N80,000, ” Awase told the court.
According to him, the complainant who was driving his car was stopped by the traffic light and the accused distracted him before stealing his two phones.
“When the complainant got to the traffic light, the accused hit his car with his hand, Okereke opened the door to know why his car was hit in that manner.
“The accused snatched the two phones from his car and ran away. The complainant raised alarm shouting ” thief, thief” and people around gave them a hot chase.
“A mobile policeman on a motorcycle at the scene also pursued the accused and used his motorcycle to push him into the gutter.
“He was arrested while his accomplice escaped with the phones,” the prosecutor said.
The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The Magistrate, Mrs F.F. George, who gave the ruling, said the sureties should be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos
State Government.
The case was adjourned until April 10 for mention. (NAN)