The police in Osun on Wednesday arraigned two men, Sodiq Okunola, 25, and Francis Egwe, 33, for allegedly stealing phones in banks.
The defendants appeared before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court on charges of conspiracy and stealing.
They, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Insp Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 20 at 9.00 a.m. at No. 25, Irebami Line 1, Ile-Ife.
Osanyintuyi said that Egwe conspired Okuola to steal an Infinix Hot 8 worth N85, 000.
He said that the phone belonged to one Mr Joel Okunola.
He submitted that the defendants committed the offences at a branch of Fidelity Bank at Lagere, Ile-Ife.
According to him, Sodiq Okuola, on March 21 at 8.30 a.m. at a Zenith Bank branch, also stole a Tecno phone worth N60, 000.
He said that the Tecno phone belonged to one Mr Joseph Etim.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 383, 390(a) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.
Magistrate Abosede Sarumi granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties each.
Sarumi ordered that the sureties must swear to affidavits of means and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
According to Sarumi, one of the sureties must be a landed property owner while the second must be blood relation.
She added that the sureties must provide evidence of three years’ tax payment.
The magistrate adjourned the case until April 24 for hearing.
