HARSH LAW: Woman Jailed For Damaging Mobile 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, Abimbola Oshodi-Makanju, said the convict should also 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.”