A
young man has been caught in the act as he tried to make away with a
handset right inside the church where people had come to worship.
Williams Okonoboh Eromosele
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.
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