6th January, 2022
By Paul Iyoghojie
A 39-year-old driver, Momoh Mohammed has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing iPhone handset valued N500, 000 belonging to late Omotola Amosun who died in a fatal motor accident in Lekki, Lagos in November, 2021.
The police at the Maroko Division, Lekki, Lagos alleged that the vehicle Amosun was travelling had an accident at about 12am at Lekki Phase 1, second gate, and died and that when the defendant drove his car to the accident scene and met the victim lying on the ground, instead of assisting in rushing her to the hospital for possible survival, the defendant allegedly stole the victim’s iPhone and zoomed off.
Police said the alleged stealing was discovered when the family of the deceased reported to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Maroko Division, Lekki that they could not find the iPhone their late daughter used in calling them before she embarked on the journey.
The DPO swung into action and directed his crack team to fish out the iPhone anywhere it could be found.
After weeks of intelligence gathering, the police team tracked the phone to the defendant and arrested him.
Mohammed was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos on a two-count charge of stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Police prosecuting counsel, Inspector Hafsat Ajibode informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on 21 November, 2021 at Lekki phase one second gate, Lagos at about 2am.
Ajibode told the court that the defendant drove his car to the accident scene and met the victim lifeless on the ground, but that instead assisting the victim with his car to the hospital for possible survival, he callously stole her phone and zoomed off before he was arrested.
Ajibode said the offences committed were punishable under sections 287 and 168 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate, Gbajumo Ayoku granted him N150, 000 bails with two sureties in like sum.
Ayoku adjourned the case till 19, January, 2022 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.