Enugu Court Jails Phone Thief Eight Years As Police Hail Conviction, Call For Vigilance
Enugu Court Jails Phone Thief Eight Years As Police Hail Conviction, Call For Vigilance
In a separate case, another suspect, 29-year-old Richard Chukwuma, was arraigned and remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre over the alleged theft of alcoholic beverages from a popular supermarket in Enugu.
The Enugu State Police Command said it has secured the conviction of a 34-year-old man, Ejike Nnam, for snatching an iPhone XR valued at ₦240,000, as court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and five years for robbery, with both sentences to run concurrently.
In a separate case, another suspect, 29-year-old Richard Chukwuma, was arraigned and remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre over the alleged theft of alcoholic beverages from a popular supermarket in Enugu.
The police disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, October 10, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who said the cases were handled by the New Haven Police Division.
According to the police spokesperson, Nnam allegedly snatched the iPhone XR from a female victim along Bisalla Road, Enugu, at about 8 pm on October 8, alongside an accomplice who remains at large.
The suspect, who reportedly resides in an uncompleted building at Nkpokiti, Enugu, was arrested shortly after the incident and arraigned the following day before the Enugu North Magistrate Court.
“He pleaded guilty and was convicted,” the police said, adding that the court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and five years for robbery, with both sentences to run concurrently.
The Command described the conviction as an example of its commitment to professional policing, thorough investigations and diligent prosecution of criminal cases.
In the second case, the police said Chukwuma was arrested on October 7, 2026, at about 6:50 pm at a popular supermarket in Enugu whose name was withheld by the police.
He was allegedly caught stealing a bottle of Jameson Green Whisky valued at ₦30,150.
The police said the suspect confessed during interrogation to having previously stolen 15 bottles of the same whisky from the supermarket.
Chukwuma was subsequently arraigned on October 9, 2026, and remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the Chief Magistrate for the prompt dispensation of justice in the phone-snatching case.
He also called for the sustained and expeditious conclusion of police cases before courts across the state, arguing that timely adjudication strengthens public confidence in the justice system and supports effective crime prevention.
Giwa further praised the New Haven Police Division and the prosecution team for their diligence in handling the cases.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting criminal cases in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
