By Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Lagos State Police Command have arraigned a 30-year-old man, Babatunde Olayinka,  before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for allegedly stealing phones valued at N680,000, belonging to two students of the Yaba College of Technology.

Olayinka was arraigned before Magistrate O. Y Adefope on Monday, 26 June, 2023 on two counts bordering on stealing.

The prosecutor, Haruna Magaji, told the court that the defendant committed the offence around 2pm on June 7, 2023, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex.

Magaji said Olayinka stole one iPhone 13 Promax and one Tecno Pova phone, properties of one Olamilekan Raheem and Oyindamola Masawe.

According to Magaji, the offences contravened and are punishable under Sections 168(d) and 287 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.

The charge read in part, “That you, Babatunde Olayinka, on June 7, 2023, around 2pm at Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos, in the Yaba Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by entering into the Yabatech Sports Complex and stole students phones and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.

“That you, Babatunde Olayinka, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal one iPhone 13 Promax and one Tehno Powa total valued at N680,000, properties of one Olamilekan Raheem and Oyindamola Masawe, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280(1) and punishable under Section 287(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.”

Olayinka pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

Following his not-guilty plea, Adefope admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till August 29, 2023, for further hearing.