Man, 22 & Others Docked For Sneaking Into Shop & Stealing Assorted Phones

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 22-year old man, Bello Yakubu, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly sneaking into the shop of one Funmilayo Olatunji ‘f, through wall roof down to the ceiling and stealing assorted phones worth millions of Naira.

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 17th July, 2025, at Olusanya Street, Agege, Lagos where the shop is located.

 

The suspect, Bello Yakubu, allegedly broke into the shop, stole the phones and sold some of them to Kazeem Ijaola, 44 and Bello Arashi, 54, at give away prices.

 

However, the phones were traced to Ijaola and Arashi and they were also arrested and charged along with Yakubu for conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen items.

 

According to the Police, the first suspect, Bello Yakubu, broke into the shop in the early hours of the morning, stole the phones and sold 31 pieces of the phones worth N2.5m to the receivers.

 

The owner of the shop reported the burglary and stealing to the Police at Isokoko Division. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested Yakubu and he mentioned the two other suspects as receivers and they were all arrested and detained at the station for interrogation.

 

The Police found them culpable after rounds of interrogation and consequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

 

The charges read:

COUNT 1- “That you, Bello Yakubu ‘m’. Kareem Ijaola ‘m’ and Bello Arashi ‘m’ on the 17th July, 2025 at about 1312hrs at No. 50 Olusanya Street, Agege, Lagos State in the Ikeja Magisterial district, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and receiving stolen property and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Of Nigeria 2015.”

 

COUNT 2-“That you, Bello Yakubu ‘m’ on the same date, time and place and within the she Magisterial District, did enter the shop of one Funmilayo Olatunji ‘f, through wall roof down to the ceiling and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 309 (2) of Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

 

COUNT 3:” That you, Bello Yakubu ‘m’ on the same date, time and place and within the sam Magisterial District, did steal 31 different types of phone and two power banks valued Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N2.500, 000.00), property of one Funmilayo Olatunji ‘ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Of Nigeria 2015.”

 

COUNT 4:”That you, Kazeem Ijaola ‘m” and Bello Arashi ‘m’ on the same date, time and place and within the same Magisterial District, did did receive one MI Phone from Bello Yakubu ‘m’ property of Funmilayo Olatunji and knowing same to have been stolen and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 328 of the Criminal Law Lagos State Of Nigeria 2015.”

 

However, they pleaded not guilty.

 

The prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.

 

The Presiding Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

 

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.