By Deborah Akpede
Ikeja – Three unemployed men — Mukaila Kareem, 34; Usman Olagunju, 22; Tunde Ismail, 18, — who allegedly dispossessed worshipers of their phones while returning from New Year’s Day crossover prayers, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday.
The trio, with no residential addresses, were charged with conspiracy, breach of peace and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Aondohemba Koti, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 1, at Challenge area, Mushin, Lagos.
Koti said that the accused conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by intercepting worshipers and forcefully collecting their cell phones.
“The accused attacked the church members after closing from the service, demanding for their phones or they will be harmed.
“The worshipers surrendered their phones for fear of unknown.
“Police stormed the scene, the accused were arrested while others escaped with some of the stolen phones.
“The value of the stolen phones is yet to be ascertain,” the prosecutor said.
The offences contravened Sections 168, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years jail term for stealing while Section 411 attracts two years for conspiracy.
The accused, however, pleaded of not guilty,
The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, granted each of the accused N50, 000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.
Tanimola said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Further hearing in the case has been fixed for Jan. 28 .