A student, Theophilus Oche, who allegedly attempted to steal a cell phone, was on Thursday arraigned before a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the age of the defendant and the name of his school were, however, not provided in court.
Oche, who resides at Sheda in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, is facing charges of criminal trespass and attempt to steal.
The Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko, told the court that the offences were committed on January 27, at the University of Abuja campus in the FCT.
Tanko said that an official of the Security Unit of the institution, Abubakar Yayaha, reported the matter at Iddo Police Station on January 27.
He said that the defendant on the fateful day entered the university uninvited and attempted to dishonestly steal a student’s cellphone before he was caught.
The prosecutor said that during the police investigation, the defendant could not give a satisfactory explanation of his purpose or business on the institution’s campus.
He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 348 and 95 of the Penal Code.
Section 348 states that whoever commits criminal trespass shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to N100,000 or with both.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
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The Judge, Abdullahi Abdulkarim, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Abdulkarim ordered that the surety must provide valid means of identification and adjourned the matter until February 13 for hearing.
