The police on Monday charged a 20-year-old man, Imaran Abdullahi, before a Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja, for allegedly stealing a mobile phone from a moving car.

Abdullahi of no fixed address, was charged with theft, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Charity Nwachukwu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 16, at Wuse Market by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

Ms Nwachukwu alleged that the complainant, one Isaac Mogaji of Wuse II reported the matter at the Wuse Police Station on the same day.

According to her, the defendant reached through the complainant’s car window, stole his Pourv 9v mobile phone valued at N135,000, and fled the scene.

She alleged that as the complainant chased the defendant, the latter pulled out scissors and attempted to stab him.

She said that the defendant was eventually arrested by the police, adding that during interrogation, he made a confessional statement but could not give a satisfactory account of his actions.

According to Ms Nwachukwu, the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 287 of the Penal Code.

The Chief Magistrate, Musa Jobbo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case until October 16 for hearing.

(NAN)