A 56-year-old trader, Emenike Ejike, was on Thursday docked in a Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada, FCT for allegedly hypnotising and stealing a Tecno cell phone worth N40,000 from a woman.

The police charged Ejike with criminal conspiracy, theft and fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due.

The Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko, told the court that the complainant Mercy Idache, of New Kutunku Gwagwalada, reported the matter at the police station on Feb. 24.

Tanko said that the defendant and one other, at large approached the complainant yo ask about a certain woman who sells provisions in the market.

The police said that immediately the complainant responded to the defendant, she was hypnotised  and he collected her Tecno cell phone.

He said that the defendant, also used the complainant’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to N9,700 from the complainant’s account.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 97, 287 and 176 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to Section 176 whoever fraudulently obtains a decree or order against a person for a sum not due or for a larger sum than is due shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

Magistrate Olatunji Oladunmoye admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

Oladunmoye ordered that the surety  must reside in a verifiable address within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case until March 8 for hearing.