The police yesterday arraigned a 22-year-old businessman, Abdulrazak Lawal, at a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly swindling a commercial sex worker of her mobile phones worth N266,000.
Lawal was charged with cheating and theft.
Prosecution Counsel Stanley Nwafoaku said the complainant, Ms Charity Joseph of Jabi Masalachi, on January 30, reported the matter at Life Camp Police Station. According to her, about midnight of January 25, Lawal approached Charity for her services. They negotiated for N10,000 for the night at White House hotel, Jabi daki-biyu, but the defendant allegedly stole Charity’s IPhone valued at N266,000.
Nwafoaku told the court that Lawal did not pay the N10,000 as agreed, saying during police investigation, he was arrested and all efforts to recover the phone were unsuccessful.
He added that Lawal admitted to have sold the phone for N35,000 to one Abba who absconded to Katsina State. The offence contravenes Sections 322 and 288 of the Penal Code Law.
Lawal however pleaded not guilty to the charge and his lawyer, Charity Nwosu, made a bail application for him in the most liberal terms.
Nwafoaku did not object to the bail application. Justice Muhammed Wakili admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N150,000 and one surety in like sum. He also ordered that the surety must provide a BVN print out, recent passport photograph and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar. He then adjourned the matter till March 1 for hearing.