Driver docked over alleged theft of 63 mobile phones

A 48-year-old driver, Olasunbo Usibajo, charged with stealing 63 mobile phones valued at N250, 000 was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused was arraigned before a Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, on a count charge of stealing.

Usibajo, who resides at Ojota, Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Osunsanmi said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 11, at Ikeja.

He said that the accused stole the phones belonging to Gloryland Communication Service Ltd.

Ayorinde said that the complainant packaged 146 different phones inside a carton, and gave it to the accused to deliver to a customer in Abuja, but he tampered with the carton to steal 63 phones.

“The complainant sent the carton of phones through the accused to a customer with a waybill from Ojota to Abuja.

“But when the goods arrived Abuja, the customer called that 63 of the phones were missing.

“The complainant went to the park, saw one of the phones with the accused; he confessed to the crime and promised to pay for the phones.

“The complainant reported the case and the accused was arrested,’’ the prosecutor said.

The offence violated Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Our correspondent reports that the Section prescribes three years’ imprisonment for stealing.

The case was adjourned until Sept. 24, for mention.