By Opeyemi Aremu
Lagos – Two teen girls, Zainab Balogun and Ayisata Kazeem, who allegedly stole phones and N171,000 cash, on Wednesday appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court.
Balogun, 15, and Kazeem, 16, whose addresses were not known, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
However, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the defendants and others now at large committed the offence at Ebute-Metta area of Lagos on Dec.13.
Osayande said that the defendants had worked at the phone shop and had a spare key to the shop belonging to John Uko.
According to her, after the close of work the defendants returned to the shop and stole three Blackberry phones valued at N45,000 and two Techno Android phones valued at N36,000.
She said other items included five Nokia phones valued at N35,000; one blackberry charger valued at N1,500; one Nokia charger valued at N500, and N36,000 cash from the shop.
The prosecutor noted that the offences contravened sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety in like sum.
Nwachukwu said that the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendants, should provide evidence of tax payments, and their addresses verified.
She adjourned the case to January 8 for mention.