Mason arraigned for alleged theft, breach of trust

A 31-year-old mason, Emmanuel Bala, on Monday appeared before a Dei-Dei Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for alleged breach of trust and theft.

The police charged Bala with breach of trust and theft but the resident of Katampe, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

The prosecutor, Mr Chinedu Ogada, told the court that one Mr Ahmed Khamisu of Katampe Extension, Abuja, reported the case at the Dawaki Police Station on Jan. 27.

Ogada said that, on the same date, the complainant entrusted his shop to the defendant to watch over when he was going for prayers at a nearby mosque.

He said that when the complainant returned, he discovered that four phones had got missing from the shop.

Ogada said that the defendant then went into hiding, claiming to be sick.

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the defendant could not give a satisfactory reason for the loss of the phones whose value had yet to be determined.

Ogada told the court that all efforts made to recover the phones from the defendant failed.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 312 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The Judge, Mr Saminu Suleiman, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Sulieman adjourned the case until March 24 for hearing.