Court grants N100,000 bail to student over alleged phone theft

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May 10, 2017 2:37 PM

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Titus Abolarinwa, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum.

A GSM user in Nigeria

An Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday admitted a 19-year-old student, Kelvin Maxwell, to a bail of N100,000 over alleged theft of a phone valued at N100,000.

He said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Maxwell, whose address is unknown, had pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of stealing, impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

Police Prosecutor Tony Elibeh told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 5, 2016 at Top Star Hotel, Olodi-Apapa,

Elibeh said the accused, who falsely presented himself as a phone repairer, collected a phone valued at N100,000 from a girl, Tracy Obidinma, on the pretext of repairing it.

The accused sold the phone and converted the money to personal use, he alleged.

The prosecutor said when Obidinma went to collect her phone the following day, the accused started giving flimsy excuses.

The offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 380 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for obtaining by false pretences, while Section 287 stipulates three years for stealing.

The case was adjourned until June 7 for mention.

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