A mob at the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Tuesday reportedly accosted and beat up a Yoruba film-maker, Seun Egbegbe, for allegedly stealing nine iPhones at a shop in the area.
However, the film-maker reportedly told policemen investigating the incident that he had no intention to steal the phones, but had stepped into his vehicle to pick some money when the sales boy raised the alarm.
Egbegbe had gone to the shop around 10am on Tuesday and had told the sales boy he met in the shop that he wanted to buy some iPhones.
Egbegbe, who had been romantically linked with a popular Yoruba movie actress, Toyin Aimakhu, was said to have left the shop with the phones, telling the seller that he wanted to pick money from his jeep.
Three other persons were allegedly inside the jeep.
He, however, reportedly attempted to leave in the waiting jeep without paying for the phones when the sales boy raised the alarm, drawing the attention of other traders in the area who stopped the vehicle and dragged Egbegbe out.
The producer was said to have been beaten to a pulp and was consequently handed over to the police at the Area F Command, Ikeja.
A police source at the command told our correspondent that Egbegbe was being held for investigation into the alleged crime.
The source said, “He (Egbegbe) went to Computer Village this morning (Tuesday) to buy latest iPhone 6.The sales boy gave the price as N290,000 and he demanded five pieces of the phone, which he gave him.
“He afterwards requested additional four phones and the boy gave him. The boy told us that as he was about to demand payment, Egbegbe requested one more to make the phones 10. The boy went into the shop to bring the 10th phone.
“The boy told us that before he came out, the suspect left with the nine phones without paying for them. He was eventually pursued by other shop owners. He wanted to enter his standby vehicle, but was apprehended and beaten up.
“Many senior officers tried to interrogate him, but he kept telling them that they should not worry.”
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the incident at the Computer Village, said Egbegbe had denied the allegation.
She, however, added that the case was still under investigation.
“The command received the report of an alleged stealing at the Computer Village. There have been accusations and denials. The shop owner alleged that the said Seun (Egbegbe) came to his shop to buy iPhones and in the process, he wanted to bolt in a vehicle.
“But Seun said he wanted to pick money from his vehicle to balance the payment based on an agreement with the sales boy.
“He said when he entered the vehicle, the boy screamed for help and he was attacked and beaten up by some people in the vicinity.
