A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old barber, Emmanuel John, to five-hour community service for stealing two phones valued at N58,000.
Chief Magistrate Adebola Adedayo handed down the sentence, after John pleaded guilty to the charge.
Adebola, who gave no option of fine, said that the convict should clean up the court premises for five hours.
John, who resides in Yaba area of Lagos, was arraigned on July 29, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Oriabure, told the court that the convict committed the offences at 12.35pm on July 26 at No. 2, Akanni Str., Shomolu, Lagos.
Oriabure said that John stole a Tecno Pop3 phone valued at N23,000 and a Samsung Galaxy phone, valued at N35,000, while they were being charged in a shop.
He said that unfortunately for the convict, the owners of the phones discovered that they were missing in the shop before he could escape with them.
According to him, the complainants chased him and recovered their phones before taking him to a nearby police station.
The offences contravened Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).
