A Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Friday released a 26-year-old man,

The judge, Hassan Ishaq, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused a surety in like sum, who must have a means of livelihood.

In addition, he said the surety should deposit his/her driver’s licence or national identity card with the court’s registrar.

Ayuba, a  welder, who lives in Karu in the FCT, is facing a theft charge.

He pleaded not guilty.

Earlier, Police Prosecutor Mamud Ismail told the court that the complainant, Olatundun Kazzeem reported the incident at  Karu Police Station on April 26.

He said the complainant had parked his vehicle opposite his office at Karu, and forgot his Blackberry phone in the vehicle.

“In the afternoon when he complainant remembered and went to pick the phone, he discovered that it had been stolen.

“It was discovered through the office CCTV footage that the accused opened the vehicle with another key and stole the phone.”

The offence contravened Section 79 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation.

The case has been adjourned until July 3 for hearing.