The police on Thursday arraigned a 33-year-old teacher, Nebe Ugochukwu, in a Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing cell phone valued at N70,000.
The police charged Ugochukwu, with Criminal trespass, mischief and theft.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Tosin Ojaomo, told the court that on April 7, the complainant, Nurudeen Adepoju, of Ayis Academy, FHA, Lugbe, Abuja, reported the matter at the Lugbe Police Station.
Ojaomo said that the defendant was a former teacher in the school and that on the same date he went to the school and stole the complainant’s phone valued at N70,000.
He said while the defendant was trying to escape from the school, the complainant raised an alarm and the staff chased and apprehended him.
Read Also: Updated: Reps adopt Petroleum Industry Bill
Ojaomo told the court that in the process the defendant criminally destroyed the phone by smashing it on the floor.
The prosecutor said that during police investigation the defendant confessed to the crime, alleging that the school authority owed him N19,000.
He said the offences contravened sections 289, 327 and 348 of the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge, Saleh Hala, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Hala ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and produce reliable means of identification.
He adjourned the matter until July 15, for mention. (NAN)