Lagosian seizes hand of a man who wants to steal his Tecno phone

A Lagosian, Afolabi Abdumalik, proved smarter than a pickpocket, Abeeb Oladimeji, when he seized his hand on notice that the latter had dipped the hand inside his pocket to steal his phone.
Although the thief eventually removed and passed on the Tecno Spark 2 phone to his allies, so insistent was Abdumalik that he never released the hand until people gathered round and got the thief arrested.
As part of the success of Abdumalik’s vigilance, the police in Lagos on Friday arraigned the 22-year-old suspected pickpocket, Oladimeji, who made away with the cell phone worth N45,000.
Oladimeji, who lives at 22, Odoru St., Obale, Ikorodu, Lagos State, was charged with conspiracy and theft before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Mary Ajiteru, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Nov. 21, at 7:30p.m. on Isi Kalu Street, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Ajiteru alleged that Oladimeji removed the phone from Abdulmalik’s pocket and passed it to one of his accomplices.
“When the complainant noticed that the defendant’s hand went in and out of his pocket, he held on to him and raised alarm,” she said.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 provides for three years’ imprisonment for theft while 411 stipulates two years’ jail term for conspiracy.
The Magistrate, Mr O. M. Dawodu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case until Dec.19 for mention.