A woman with two children, identified as Chisom Nwogbo, has been apprehended on suspicion of stealing five mobile phones during a church service in Abuja.
On Monday, September 25, she was brought before the Wuse Zone II Magistrates’ Court and charged with two offenses: criminal conspiracy and theft. The 26-year-old defendant, who claims to work as a makeup artist, however, denied the accusations.
According to the police prosecutor, Oyeyemi Adeniyi, the accused disguised herself as a worshipper on September 10 and entered the Inspiration Life Community Church in the Jahi area to commit the theft. The case was reported by one Miss Esther Silas of Mana Apartment, Dawaki, Abuja, through a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Abuja on September 13.
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“She also confessed to the police to have sold the other phones to one Paul, popularly known as Daddy Fresh, who is now at large.
“The defendant confessed to the police that she had been to five different churches within FCT and stolen phones of worshippers using similar tactics,” he said.
Oyeyemi alleged that Nwogbo stole five phones: an iPhone 14 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy A32, an iPhone X5, a Techno Pop 5, another Samsung Galaxy model, and a black handbag belonging to the complainant and her friends. He further stated that the complainants’ bank accounts were accessed, and an amount totaling N150,000 and N1.3 million was withdrawn from them. Additionally, the prosecutor noted that an iPhone XS and a Samsung phone, valued at N2 million, were recovered from the defendant.
The charges against Nwogbo are in violation of the provisions of sections 97 and 288 of the Penal Code.
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The defense counsel, Ophie Ogheneyerowho, requested bail for his client, citing that “the defendant is currently nursing a baby.” The prosecutor did not oppose the defendant’s bail but urged the court to exercise its discretion judiciously.
Magistrate Izinyon Ibironke granted the defendant bail in the amount of N2 million, requiring two sureties who must have a verifiable source of income and reside within the court’s jurisdiction. She ordered the court’s staff to verify the addresses of the sureties and adjourned the case for a hearing to October 19th, 2023.
