Court jails man two years for stealing phones

    
An Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court has sentenced 22-year-old Abdularamoni Jamiu to two years in prison with hard labour, after he pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing.

The convict, who had no fixed address, was arraigned on three counts.

He was, however, convicted on one of the charges –  stealing a BlackBerry phone, a Nokia phone and the sum of N22, 000 – from one Zuliat Ojubanire.

The police said the incident happened on March 15, 2014, while the victim was waiting to join a vehicle to her office, at Costain Round-About, Surulere, Lagos State.

It was learnt that Jamiu was among 12 hoodlums who attacked  the victim and others in the area around 5am.

Several people were said to have been dispossessed of their belongings, but the police, who responded to the distress call of the victims were only able to apprehend Jamiu and one Lekan Nurudeen, 30.

The two men were arraigned on three counts of stealing.

While Nurudeen, who said he was a truck loader, pleaded not guilty to the charge, Jamiu admitted to stealing the items.

The police prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, who read the facts of the case before the court said, “On March 15, 2014 at about 5.05am one Zuliat Ojubanire, a female, and one Pius Ashibuogwu  reported a case of stealing.

“Ojubanire reported that while she was going to work, she alighted at Costain Bus Stop, waiting to enter another bus to her place of work.

“She saw about 12 area boys walking towards her. As soon as they reached her, they snatched her bag and stole all the valuables.”

The policeman said the area boys also beat up Ashibuogwu, who was dispossessed of his phones and money as well.

He said the victims cried out to a police officer at the junction, who then gave the men a chase and was able to apprehend two of the thieves.

The magistrate, Mrs. Y.B Badejo-Okusanya, found Jamiu guilty of the second count, but absolved him of the first and third counts.

When asked to make his allocutus, the convict said, “I am sorry, please forgive me. I committed the offence, but the second guy does not know anything about it.”

It was gathered that the second defendant, Nurudeen, who lives in the Ijora Badia area of the state, had followed the gang, thinking that they were going for a street fight.

While armed with stones and sticks, the Kwara State indigene reportedly got trapped in the stealing incident which was carried out by the gang he followed out.

After pleading not guilty, the court admitted him to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till April 9, 2014.

Copyright PUNCH.