CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A man, John Emmanuel, had a nasty experience in Lagos State after he gave his phone to a member of their church to make calls during service and all the money in his bank account was siphoned within minutes.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the Celestial Church of Christ, Oko filling district in Ejigbo area of Lagos.
The 54-year old member, Matthew Nunayon, has been arrested and charged before the Court for stealing.
The defendant, Matthew, pretended to have attended the church service and asked the victim to give him his phone in order to make calls because he forgot his own phone at home.
The victim believed him and gave him the phone to make calls without suspecting any foul play as a member of the church.
However, the defendant took the phone and transferred all the money in the account into his Union Bank account with number 0150314104, deleted the bank alerts and handed him back the phone.
When the victim got home and wanted to do some transactions, the account balance showed that there was no money in his Access Bank account with number 1224255128.
He then went to the bank to find out what happened and the statement of his account, which he printed, stated that he transferred the missing money to an account belonging to the defendant and the transaction was done exactly within the period he gave the defendant the phone to make calls.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ejigbo Division. Matthew was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing money and he reportedly admitted to have transferred the money into his account.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Dosumu, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood.
The matter was adjourned 5th November, 2022, for mention while the defendant was remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.