Teenager sneaks into church, steals phones after vigil

While members of Tower of God’ s Grace Ministry Church , Isheri, Lagos , slept off after a long vigil , Samuel Adetomi , an apprentice tailor , had a different plan entirely.

The 18 – year – old young man allegedly sneaked into the church and stole three mobile phones belonging to some church members, who were asleep .
City Round gathered that Adetomi was learning tailoring on Ajibade Street , Isheri, some distance from Agbedina Street where the church is located.

It was learnt that he and his friend , one Tunmise , had slept in the corridor of the church on March 15 , 2019 while the vigil was going on.
After the prayer ended, the members were said to have passed the night in the church .
While they were asleep, Adetomi reportedly sneaked into the church and removed the mobile phones from the sockets where they were being charged .

Our correspondent learnt that he gave one of the phones to one 16 – year – old Damilola , who saw him coming out of the church , and took the remaining two to a friend , Azeez Akinola , for safekeeping .
It was learnt that the church reported the case to the police and the suspects were arrested .

In his statement , Adetomi said he was planning on what to do with the mobile phones when the police arrested him .
He said , “ I dropped out from school at Senior Secondary School One . I am currently undergoing apprenticeship in tailoring.

“ On March 15 , around 11 pm, I went to a plaza close to the church and slept in the corridor . My friend , Tunmise , and I slept there . Around 3 am , I woke up and walked into the church auditorium .

“ The congregation had slept off after a vigil . I checked around and saw three mobile phones being charged and removed them . Immediately I got outside , Damilola saw me with the three phones . He asked me where I got them from and I told him they were stolen .

“ He asked me to give him a phone; I gave him one of the two Infinix Hot 6 handsets . One boy, David , was with him but he did not know I gave him the phone . I went to a hotel in Isheri where I gave the two remaining phones to Azeez to keep. ”

Damilola , admitted that he received one of the stolen phones , adding that he collected it as his share of the loot because he knew Adetomi stole them from the church .
Akinola , who also confirmed Adetomi ’ s account , stated that they had become friends four days before the crime was committed .
He said , “ I was in front of the hotel when he came with the phones . It was after I pressured him that he told me he stole the phones .

“ We went to hide the phones in a kiosk and departed . When I learnt in the morning that Samuel ( Adetomi ) had been arrested , I went to pick the phones and took them home . I was at home when Samuel led policemen to arrest me. ”

The three suspects were consequently charged to a magistrates ’ court sitting in Ogba on four counts of stealing .
The police prosecutor , ASP Ben Emuerhi , told the court that the offence was in contravention of sections 287 and 328( 1 ) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State , 2015 .
However , when the charges were read to them , the defendants pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial .

The Presiding Magistrate , Mrs . O. Sule -Hamzat , admitted them to bail in the sum of N 100, 000 with two sureties each in like sum .

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