A man who reportedly sneaked into a mosque to steal an expensive phone has been arrested and charged to court.

The police have arraigned two men, Tijani Rasheed, 29, and Tosin Oluwafemi, 30, in an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a cellphone from a mosque

The prosecutor, Insp Emmanuel Abdullahi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 28, 2018 around 6am at Odi Iredumi Oke-Atan area, Ile-Ife.

Abdullahi said that the accused conspired among themselves to commit the offence.

He alleged that the accused persons entered into the mosque located at Odi Iredumi Oke-Atan, Ile-Ife and stole one Itel 2016 valued at N38,000 belonging to one Gani Olihu, while he was praying in the mosque.

The prosecutor told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 383, 390 (9), 411 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, entering and stealing.

Defence Counsel, Ben Adirieje, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal term, promising that his client would not jump bail and would produce substantial sureties.

Magistrate Adejumoke Ademola-Olowolagba, granted the prayers of the defence and admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

Ademola-Olowolagba ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, reside within the court jurisdiction at an address to be verified by court officials.

She also ordered that the sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 04 who should produce two recent passport-sized photographs each.

Ademola-Olowolagba adjourned the case until December 21 for hearing.

(NAN)