A 24-year-old lady, Justina Daniel, on Thursday, appeared before a Kaduna chief magistrates’ court for allegedly stealing her friend’s purse, containing an iPhone 12 and other valuables, at a wedding.

The defendant, who resides in Goni-gora Kaduna, is charged with stealing, to which she pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution counsel, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant, Felicia Dogo, reported the matter at the Sabon Tasha Police Station on October 12.

He said the complainant and defendant went to a wedding, and when the complainant stood up to dance, she left her purse, which contained an iPhone 12 worth  N267,000, N5,000 cash and two ATM cards with the defendant.

“When the complainant came to collect the purse from the defendant, she lied that she gave the purse to the complainant’s mother,” said Mr Leo.

The prosecutor added that during the police investigation, the defendant confessed that she stole the purse, removed the money and phone and gave it to her brother.

He said the offence contravened section 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

Section 217 stipulates a jail term of three years for stealing if found guilty.

The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, admitted the defendant to N200,000 bail with one surety in like sum.

Mr Emmanuel said the surety must be a blood relation of the defendant with evidence of two years of tax payment.

He adjourned the case until December 3 for the hearing.

(NAN)