The Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Monday, convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old driver, Adeniyi Moses, to four years imprisonment for stealing a Samsung phone worth N105,000.

Magistrate Patrick Nwaka handed down the sentence after Adeniyi was found guilty of the alleged theft.

Adeniyi committed the offence on January 17, 2023, under the pretext of begging for alms at his former place of employment, where he had been sacked. He stole a Samsung phone worth N105,000 from one Okafor Ifeanyi.

The incident was caught on a Closed Circuit Television camera, and a report was made to the police, leading to his arrest and prosecution.

The convict was arraigned on two counts bordering on theft and behaving in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace and pretending to solicit alms.

According to the prosecuting counsel, Thomas Nurudeen, his offences contravened Sections 169(d) and 280(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015.

The prosecution presented evidence, including two witnesses, a CCTV footage, and urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Nwaka sentenced Adeniyi to four years in prison on count 1 and discharged the charge of breach of peace alleged against him.

Before sentencing, the defendant apologised and asked the court to show him leniency, stating that he had learnt his lesson.

His sentence will take effect from the day of his arrest.

Punch