Two teenagers, Qudus Bello and Teslim Mukartdas, were on Monday tried before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into a school to steal phones.
Bello, 19, a tailor, and Mukartdas, 15, a student both residents of Oshodi, Lagos, were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, burglary, damage and stealing.
The Police Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 29 at Oshodi Junior High School, Oshodi, Lagos.
He said the accused damaged the school’s ceiling, property of the Lagos State Government.
“The accused broke the ceiling to gain access into the Vice-Principal’s office to steal five phones, the values of which were yet to be ascertained.
“Mukartdas, a student of the school came with Bello at night to steal the phones that were seized from some students and kept in the V.P’s office.
“They also drank all the soft drinks in the V.P’s refrigerator. The following morning, the school received a tip-off from one of the students that the accused were behind the theft.
“Mukartdas was questioned and he confessed that he burgled the V.P’s office because his girlfriend’s phone was among the seized phones.
“The accused were arrested and handed over to the police,” the prosecutor said.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287, 307 (c), 350 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
Section 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 307 (c) prescribes life jail term for burglary.
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.
The Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi in ruling admitted the suspects to a bail of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsanmi said the sureties should be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was then adjourned until June 27 for mention.
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