A house help, Pascal Uchechukwu, was on Tuesday arraigned at a Magistrates’ Court in Life Camp, Abuja, for allegedly stealing phones and dollars belonging to a Priest.

Uchechukwu, is standing trial on a two-count charge of house breaking and theft.

The offence contravened the provisions of sections 355 and 288 of the Penal Code

According to the Prosecution counsel, Peter Ejike, one Rev. Father, Emmanuel Ameh of Spiritan Provincialate Catholic Church,  Katampe, Abuja reported the matter at the Gwarimpa Police Station on Dec. 24.

Ejike alleged that the defendant (Uchechukwu) who usually cleaned the Reverend Father’s house, had during mass at the church criminally trespassed and broke into his house through the ceiling.

The prosecution alleged further that the defendant then proceeded into the priest’s bedroom and stole two mobile phones, a Samsung Galaxy A20 valued at N55,000, an Infinix S series valued at N35,000.

He said Uchechukwu also took a cash sum of N12,000,  200 dollars and absconded to an unknown destination.

Ejike told the court that in the course of police investigation, one of the phones was tracked to one Abubakar Shuaibu, who facilitated the arrest of the defendant on Jan. 16, at Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

He alleged that the Samsung Galaxy phone was also recovered from the defendant and he confessed to the crime.

The defendant who denied committing the offence however, admitted taking just the phone found in his possession when he was arrested.

He equally denied knowing anything about the other missing items.

His counsel, Cynthia Nnamdi applied for his bail in the most liberal terms.

The Magistrate Chinyere Nwecheonwu, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million and a surety in like sum.

She further directed that the surety must be a civil servant on grade level 8 and above, who must reside within the court jurisdiction.

The trial judge has therefore adjourned the matter till March 5, for hearing