The police on Thursday arraigned two men, Jerry Anyanwu and Aliyu Hamza, before a Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving stolen phones.

The defendants, Anyanwu, 28, and Hamza, 29, both of no fixed address, were charged with theft and receiving stolen property.

The prosecution counsel, Charity Nwachukwu, told the court that on February 25, the complainant, Ifeanyi David of Life Camp, Abuja, reported the matter at the Wuse Zone III Police Station.

Ms Nwachukwu said the complainant alleged that on February 24, he parked his car at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse, to buy something, but returned to find that it had been broken into.

She said the suspect made away with a Nokia 5.4 cellphone valued at N350,000 and a Dailn cellphone valued at N500,000.

During investigation, the Nokia phone was traced to Hamza, who confessed that he bought it from Anyanwu.

The prosecutor said Anyanwu had dishonestly purchased the phone from an unknown person on the street, not from a shop and without a receipt or carton.

Ms Nwachukwu told the court that the defendants could not give a satisfactory account of themselves.

She added that the offence contravened Section 317 of the Penal Code.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Musa Jobbo admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with one surety in like sum.

Jobbo ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide reliable means of identification.

The case was adjourned until October 16 for hearing. 

(NAN)