The Lagos State police command have arrested and charged an
ex-convict for allegedly stealing a Huawei G73 phone valued at N70,000
inside a church.
The suspect, Williams
Okonoboh Eromosele who claimed to be a graduate of accountancy from
Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, stole the phone from one Mrs.
Ehindinibu Omowunmi at the Church of Resurrection Anglican located at
1004 estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was
also reported that the suspect had earlier been arrested in 2016 for
stealing money from church offering box at a church in Victoria Island
and charged to court. He pleaded guilty to the crime and was jailed for
six months.
According to a Police report, the
suspect committed the latest crime on 11 December, 2016 when he went to
The Church of Resurrection Anglican at 1004 Estate, Victoria Island,
Lagos, to attend their service. Police further alleged that while the
church members were praying, the suspect cleverly stole the
complainant’s phone and escaped from the church.
The
Police stated that when the complainant observed that her phone was
missing, she used another phone to call the number of her missing
handset, but the suspect received the call and told the complainant that
she must pay him N10,000 before he will return the phone to her.
The
complainant reported the matter to the DPO in charge of the Bar Beach
division, Victoria Island, CSP Olusegun Ajamolaya, who then advised that
she play along and pay the money as bait into the account the suspect
provided.
The suspect was arrested when he went
to the bank to withdraw the money. He was taken to the station and
interrogated where he allegedly confessed to the crime.
‘I am an OND holder in accountancy from Auchi Polytechnic and I have not been able to secure job with the certificate. When I came to Lagos and could not secure any job, I went to a church on Victoria Island to steal from church offering box and I was arrested, charged to court and jailed for six months. When I came back, the devil pushed me again as I went to The Church of Resurrection, Anglican, 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos and I was arrested again. I promised to change if am set free from this present case,” he reportedly confessed to the police.’
After
the investigation by Inspector Sarah Ojie and her team, the suspect was
arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court on a one-count charge
of stealing.
The offense, according to police
prosecutor, Inspector OketeEjima, is punishable under section 287 of the
Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.
The accused who pleaded guilty to the crime will reappear in court on 19 April, 2017 for facts and sentencing.
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