An alleged Fifty-Eight Thousand Naira Phone Theft Woman, Blessing Chuks, 27-year-old, was on Friday arraigned before an Ogbeson Chief Magistrates’ Court in Benin City, Edo State.
The defendant, Blessing Chuks, who is now facing trial for her alleged involvement on a stolen Itel W5504 Phone, a property of a Female Pastor, Rev Jossy Ibhas, is likely to spend prescribed seven years imprisonment if found guilty.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Charity Asemota told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Feb 15, at 2nd Oba Ewuare Street, Off Upper Mission Road, Benin in the Ogbeson Magisterial District of Edo.
Inspector Asemota had alleged that the defendant stole the Itel phone worth Fifty Eight Thousand Naira (N58,000.).
The offence contravened the provisions of Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. 11, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, now applicable in Edo.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, adding that, she picked the phone on the ground.
According to her, “I did not steal the phone but, I picked it up from the ground”.
The Chief Magistrate, Prince Mutairu Oare, however, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
While adjourning the case until June 9, 2020, for further hearing, the Chief Magistrate, said the surety must be responsible.
Meanwhile, in another development, An Uselu Mobile Court in Egor Local Government Area of Edo on Friday sentenced 3 persons to cut grasses at High court premises as part of Community Services for violating COVID-19 curfew.
NAIJA CENTER NEWS recalled that street trading, wearing of face mask, dusk-to-dawn curfew among others, were imposed by Edo State Government to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The State Prosecuting Counsel, Isaac Kadiri said that the three persons, who were apprehended at Ugbowo and Uselu axis, pleaded liable to the offence.
Presiding Chief Magistrate, Prince Mutairu Oare ordered the convicts to cut grasses at the High court premises in Benin as part of community services in line with the state government’s non-custodial regulation.
Oare ordered that the convicts should cut grasses in one hour on each day spanning for three days as punishment for violating curfew.
However, the Chief Magistrate gave the convicts an option to pay a fine between N3,000
The offenders would be handled by correctional officers during the punishment period.
