Unemployed arraigned for stealing in Lagos church...

An unemployed man, Biodun Ibrahim, who jumped into a church premises during a vigil, and allegedly stole some items was on Thursday arraigned at a Magistrates’ Court in Oshodi, Lagos.

Ibrahim, who resides at No. 5, Lawanson Road, Itire, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of unlawful entry and stealing.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on September 19 at about 3.00am at Christ Apostolic Church, Itire, Lagos.

He said the accused jumped the fence into the church premises during a vigil to steal worshippers’ valuables.

“The accused jumped the fence of the church, sneaked to where the worshippers were sleeping after the vigil, and dispossessed them of their phones and money.

“He also unplugged phones being charged by some worshippers inside the church hall,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the police prosecutor as saying in court.

Olatunde said the accused was sighted by the church security guards as he was about to escape after stealing the items.

“When he was questioned, he could not give satisfactory answer as to what he was doing inside the church premises at that time.

“When his bag was searched, 12 phones and some amount of money were recovered,” the prosecutor said.

The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 285 prescribes a three- year jail term as penalty for offenders.

However, the accused denied committing the offence.

The Magistrate, Mr. Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till October 22 for mention.