A mother of two was charged by the Police on Monday at the Wuse Zone II Magistrates’ Court in Abuja with snatching phones while attending church.
Chisom Nwogbo, a 26-year-old defendant who identifies as a makeup artist, is accused of stealing and criminal conspiracy on two counts, which she denies.
The matter was reported by Miss Esther Silas of Mana Apartment, Dawaki, Abuja, through a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Abuja on September 13, according to police prosecutor Oyeyemi Adeniyi, who testified in court.
According to Oyeyemi, the defendant went to Inspiration Life Community Church in the Jahi neighborhood of Abuja on September 10 dressed as a worshiper in order to commit the crime.
He further claimed that Nwogbo had stolen five phones from the complainant and her friends, including an iPhone 14 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy A32, an iPhone X5, a Techno Pop 5, and a black purse.
He claimed that during the course of the inquiry, the phones were found in Idu, Abuja, where the defendant had been detained.
He continued by saying that after a search of the defendant’s home, the black handbag, Techno, and iPhones were found.
She also admitted to selling the other phones to Paul, also known as Daddy Fresh, who is currently at large, to the police.
According to the police report, “the defendant admitted to them that she had visited five different churches in the FCT and had stolen phones from worshipers there using similar methods,” he said.
Oyeyemi claimed that it was later discovered that the complainants’ accounts had been emptied of the sums of N150,000 and N1.3 million.
He mentioned that a Samsung and iPhone XS worth N2 million were also taken back from the defendant.
The prosecution claimed that the offenses were in violation of the Penal Code’s sections 97 and 288.
Ophie Ogheneyerowho, the defense attorney, requested bail on behalf of his client, explaining that “the defendant is currently nursing a baby.”
He further stated that the defendant had assisted the police with their investigation and freely gave all necessary information.
He assured the court that if bail was granted, the prisoner would not flee, and he added that dependable sureties were on hand to act as the defendant’s substitutes.
He nevertheless persuaded the court to give bail to his client in the most lenient terms possible, pointing out that the “defendant is innocent until proven guilty.”
Although the prosecution made no objections to the defendant’s bail, she encouraged the court to exercise discretion wisely.
She directed the court officials to verify the sureties’ addresses and postponed the case until October 19 for a hearing, according to NAN.
