The Police, on Thursday, arraigned three security guards before a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly conspiring and stealing building materials worth N2.1 million.
The defendants, Alhassan Ahmed, Daniel Pius, and Usmahn Abubakar, all of Pumpy Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, were charged with criminal conspiracy, negligent conduct, mischief, and theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that on Feb. 27 at about 9:00 a.m., the complainant, Mr. Confidence Edenene of Lugbe, Abuja, reported the matter at the Lugbe police station.
Nwafoaku told the court that the defendants were posted by the chief security officer (CSO) of the estate to live in the gatehouse of the complainant’s uncompleted building and guard the estate.
He said that on Feb. 26, when the complainant visited the estate to inspect the level of work done in his building, he discovered that the wires, pop, and doors had been vandalized and stolen.
The prosecution counsel further stated that during the police investigation, all three defendants claimed not to know anything about the stolen items.
According to him, the offenses contravene Sections 97, 196, 327, and 288 of the Penal Code Law.
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The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The Defence Counsel, Cajetan Nnaemeka, made bail applications for the defendants in the most liberal term, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Nnaemeka promised that the defendants would not jump bail if granted.
The prosecution counsel did not, however, object to the bail application made by the defense counsel.
The Judge, Muhammed Wakili, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N800,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.
Wakili said that the surety must provide a BVN printout, a recent passport photograph, and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.
He, thereafter, adjourned the matter till April 26 for a hearing.
