Man arraigned over alleged phone theft, N600,000 transfer in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

A man, Abiodun Edward, has been arraigned before an Akure Magistrate’s Court sitting at Oke-Eda, Ondo State, for allegedly stealing a mobile phone and transferring N600,000 from the owner’s bank account.

Edward was brought before Chief Magistrate Damilola Sekoni on two counts bordering on extortion and stealing.

According to the prosecutor, Olusegun Akeredolu, the defendant allegedly committed the offences on July 26, 2026, around 1 p.m. on Odo Agbara Street, Owo, Ondo State.

Akeredolu told the court that Edward allegedly forcibly took a mobile phone belonging to Johnson Gbemi Promise and demanded N50,000 before he would release it.

The prosecutor further alleged that Edward subsequently used the phone to transfer N600,000 from the victim’s First Bank account without his consent.

He said the alleged offences contravened Sections 406 and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, with punishment provided under Section 390(9).

Edward pleaded not guilty to the charges, while his counsel, Torkuma Peter Orsootyo, urged the court to grant him bail.

Consequently, the chief magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and ordered the court registrar to verify their residential addresses, while adjourning the case until October 12, 2026, for trial.