The police on Monday, dragged five men before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, for allegedly stealing passengers’ phones in a tricycle.
The defendants are: Christopher Solomon, (35) Idris Ramoni, (29); Taoreed Aderibigbe, (33); Kelvin Daniel, (21); and Teslim Hammed, (21).
They are standing trial on charges bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Cpl. David Adepoju, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 2, at about 2.00 p.m. at the Academy area of Ibadan.
He alleged that the defendants conspired to steal the phones of passengers in a tricycle.
According to him, the defendants stole the phones of two complainants, one Mr Kazeem Oluwasope and Mayowa Dada, who boarded the same tricycle with the defendants, at the aforementioned area of Ibadan.
He said that the offences contravene the provisions of sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Kausarat Ayofe, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.
Among others, she held that the sureties must be close relations to the defendants.
The court adjourned the case until May 25, for hearing.