Williams Okonoboh Eromosele, a 28-year-old ex-convict, who claimed to be a graduate of Accountancy from Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, has been arrested for allegedly stealing a Huawei G73 phone valued at N70,000 from Mrs. Ehindinibu Omowunmi at the Church of Resurrection Anglican located at 1004 estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The police at the Bar Beach division, who arrested the suspect, said that the suspect had earlier been arrested in 2016 for stealing money from church offering box at a church in Victoria Island and charged to court. He pleaded guilty to the crime and was jailed for six months.
Police alleged that the suspect committed the latest crime on 11 December, 2016 when he went to The Church of Resurrection Anglican at 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, to attend their service. Police further alleged that while the church members were praying, the suspect cleverly stole the complainant’s phone and escaped from the church.
The Police stated that when the complainant observed that her phone was missing, she used another phone to call the number of her missing handset, but the suspect received the call and told the complainant that she must pay him N10,000 before he will return the phone to her.
Following the development, the complainant reported the matter to the DPO in charge of the Bar Beach division, Victoria Island, CSP Olusegun Ajamolaya, and he advised the complainant to play along and pay the money as bait into the account the suspect provided.
The suspect was arrested when he went to the bank to withdraw the money. He was taken to the station and interrogated where he allegedly confessed to the crime.
“I am an OND holder in accountancy from Auchi Polytechnic and I have not been able to secure job with the certificate. When I came to Lagos and could not secure any job, I went to a church on Victoria Island to steal from church offering box and I was arrested, charged to court and jailed for six months. When I came back, the devil pushed me again as I went to The Church of Resurrection, Anglican, 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos and I was arrested again. I promised to change if am set free from this present case,” he reportedly confessed to the police.
After investigation by Inspector Sarah Ojie and her team, the suspect was arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court on one-count charge of stealing.
The offence, according to police prosecutor, Inspector OketeEjima, is punishable under section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.
The accused pleaded guilty to the crime in the open court and magistrate Mrs. O. Otitoju adjourned the case till 19 April, 2017 for facts and sentencing.
