Woman Jailed For Two Months With Hard Labour For Damaging A Phone

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Friday
sentenced a businesswoman, Philomina Eregbulem, 28, to two months imprisonment
with hard labour for damaging a house caretaker’s cell phone. 

Delivering judgment, the Magistrate said: “you are hereby
sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour for maliciously damaging
a cell phone.

The magistrate said the convict should also to restitute
N110,000, which is the value of the phone she damaged.

“From the facts before the court, prosecutor has proved
beyond reasonable doubt that you committed the offence that you are charged
with. This court hereby finds you guilty of the charge of malicious damage and
sentences you to two months imprisonment.

“This will serve as deterrent to others,” the magistrate
said.

Ms. Eregbulem was arraigned on November 8, 2012, on
one-count charge of malicious damage.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail
for N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The prosecutor, Samson Ekikere, had told the court that the
convict committed the offence on November 5, 2012 at No. 6, Ikosi Road, Oregun,
Ikeja.

Mr. Ekikere said that Ms. Eregbulem willfully and
maliciously damaged a Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued N110,000, property of
Abdulazeez Huseni.

He said, “Eregbulem, who is a tenant in the house that
Huseni oversees, was served with a quit notice due to her unwillingness to pay
the increased house rent.

“She refused to collect the quit notice. Subsequently,
Huseni was instructed to paste the notice on her door, take the picture as
evidence of proof of service.

“In the process of taking the picture, Eregbulem collected
Huseni’s phone, flung it on the floor, claiming that he took her pictures and
invading her privacy.’’

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 348 of
the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

(NAN)