A security guard employed to protect the property of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta has been arraigned alongside two others for allegedly stealing a 17KVA Perkins generator worth N2.5 million from the agency’s office.
The accused persons — Sodiq Fasasi, 27, Lukmon Faruq, 26, and Taiwo Adeleke, 19 — were on Thursday brought before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Isabo, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing.
The trio, who reportedly have no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutor, Inspector Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the defendants conspired to remove the generator from the NAN office located at Magbon, beside the INEC office in Abeokuta, on October 25 at about 3:18 p.m.
Olu-Balogun alleged that Fasasi, who was the security guard assigned to the premises, masterminded the operation by reportedly inviting his accomplices to the facility with a vehicle to move the generator.
“Instead of safeguarding the agency’s property, the first defendant allegedly facilitated the movement of the generator. In the process of removing it, they damaged some parts of the generator,” he said.
The prosecutor added that the plan collapsed when vigilant neighbours raised an alarm after sighting the men attempting to cart away the equipment.
“They could not give any reasonable explanation when questioned by the neighbours and later by the SWAT operatives who were alerted. That prompted their arrest,” he told the court.
He noted that the offences contravened Sections 516, 451, 383 and 390 of the Criminal Law of Ogun State, 2006.
Chief Magistrate Mrs. A.K. Araba granted each defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety each in like sum.
She ordered that they be remanded at the Oba Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until November 11 for hearing.
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