The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday arraigned a 31-year-old man, Frank Obodom, for alleged theft of a phone worth N720,000 in Alaba International Market, in the Ojo area of the state.

The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate L.Y. Balogun sitting before a Yaba Magistrate Court on one count bordering on phone theft.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Chekwube Okeh, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 18, 2023, around 9.42 am at the Alaba market, Ojo, Lagos State.

She stated that Obodom entered a store belonging to Vigis International Limited at the Alaba market pretending to buy a phone case and while the attendant was sourcing for the ones to show to him, he took a Samsung Phone Model A03s.

Okeh also revealed that the defendant was captured by the Closed-Circuit Television cameras in the store and immediately the market task force officials were alerted and he was arrested.

The defendant, a graduate of quantity surveying from a polytechnic in Lagos State, when asked why he committed the offence claimed that he stole the phone because of his house rent that was due and he did not have enough money to pay.

He claimed that it was the first time he was indulging in such a crime.

According to Okey, the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge read in part, “That you, Frank Obodom, on October 18, 2023 around 9 am at Ojo Alaba Market Ojo, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal one Samsung Phone Model A03s, four other Samsung phones, all valued at N720, 000, property of Vigis International Limited and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Following his pea, the magistrate, Mrs Balogun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000, with one responsible surety in like sum.

She, however, adjourned the case until December 12, 2023, for a hearing.