Destiny Ameh, 39, a notorious Lagos handset thief who, according to police, had been terrorising road users on Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria, has been jailed by Tinubu Magistrates’ Court.
Ameh’s usual location for stealing people’s phones and handbags is Victoria Island’s Law School Under the Bridge.
He was convicted and sentenced to one month in prison without the option of a fine by Magistrate T.A Idowu after pleading guilty to a one-count charge preferred against him by the Police at the Barbeach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos for stealing a Techno phone worth N65,000 from one Rebecca Akapa at the Law School Under the Bridge, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
The facts of the case were presented before the Court by the Police Counsel, Ajaga Agboko.
Police said Ameh’s journey to jail started on Christmas Eve, 25 December 2022 when he stormed out of his hideout at the Law School Under the bridge by Adeola Hopewell Street, descended on the victim and snatched her Techno phone valued at N65,000 and escaped.
According to the Police, following the ugly incident, the victim reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Bar beach Division, Victoria Island who swiftly directed his crack team led by Inspector Dimka Nenrot to hunt down the fleeing suspect and recover the stolen phone from him.
The Police team swung into action, tracked the convict to a beer parlour where he was drinking beer and arrested him.
During investigation, Ameh allegedly pleaded with the Police to have mercy on him and that hunger pushed him to be stealing phones from owners, but when asked why he was caught drinking beer instead of buying food to eat since he said hunger pushed him into stealing, he could not give a satisfactory response.
He was, therefore, charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on a count charge of stealing.
Ameh pleaded guilty to the charge and was subsequently convicted and Jailed by Magistrate Idowu.