Ibadan: The police on Monday, presented five men before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, accused of allegedly stealing mobile phones from passengers in a tricycle. The defendants, identified as Christopher Solomon, 35; Idris Ramoni, 29; Taoreed Aderibigbe, 33; Kelvin Daniel, 21; and Teslim Hammed, 21, are facing charges related to conspiracy and theft.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. The prosecuting officer, Corporal David Adepoju, informed the court that the alleged offences took place on March 2, around 2:00 p.m. in the Academy area of Ibadan. It was claimed that the defendants conspired to steal the phones from two complainants, Mr Kazeem Oluwasope and Mayowa Dada, who were traveling in the same tricycle with the accused.
The prosecutor noted that the actions of the defendants were in violation of sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000. In response to the charges, Magistrate Mrs. Kausarat Ayofe granted bail to the defendants, setting the amount at N500,000 each, along with the requirement of one surety each in the same amount. The magistrate further stipulated that the sureties must be close relations to the defendants.