EFCC Arraigns Man for Allegedly Stealing Forfeited iPhone Exhibit

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned a man, Philip Patrick Jordan, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over the alleged theft of an EFCC exhibit.

Jordan is facing a two-count charge bordering on stealing and dealing with property subject to forfeiture without due authorisation, offences contrary to Section 32(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

According to the charge, the defendant allegedly dealt with an iPhone 14 Pro that was the subject of a final forfeiture order to the Federal Government of Nigeria without authorisation from the EFCC.

He was also accused of dishonestly taking the same phone, said to be government property, for his personal use.

In her opening address, prosecution counsel, Zeenat Atiku, told the court that the defendant had visited the EFCC office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, on an errand and allegedly stole the forfeited phone from the exhibit room.

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She added that Jordan initially denied the allegation but later confessed after being confronted with CCTV footage that reportedly captured him committing the offence.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts when the charges were read to him.

Following his plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a trial date, stating its readiness to call all witnesses in a day, and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre.

However, defence counsel, K. C. Onyegbule, informed the court that he had just been briefed on the case and made an oral application for bail on behalf of the defendant.

Justice Oshodi declined the oral application and directed the defence to file a formal bail application. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to March 3, 2026, for the commencement of trial.