A 21-year-old tailor, Lawal Adams, was on Wednesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, for alleged theft of phone worth N96,000.

Adams, a resident of Mushin, Lagos State, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp Haruna Magaji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences at 8.00 p.m. on Feb. 14, on Iwaya Road in Onike, Yaba, Lagos.

According to him, the defendant and his accomplices, still at large, accosted the complainant, Mr Izu Cosmos, on his way home from work and stole his Redim Note 10 Pro.

He said that when the defendant was distracted by moving vehicles, the complainant pushed him into a gutter and started wrestling with him.

Magaji submitted that policemen patrolling the area intervened and arrested the defendant while the accomplices escaped.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 411 provides for two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to steal.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Y.O. Adefope, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation while both must be gainfully employed with evidence of three years’ tax payment to Lagos State Government.

Adefope adjourned the case until March 2 for mention.