The Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department has apprehended six men for allegedly tampering with underground cables belonging to the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited.
The six accused are Adolphus Audu, 28; Marcel Mmadu, 25; Paul Bassey, 27; Kabiru Garuba, 30; Abdulrasaki Musa, 27; and Ahmed Babatunde, 23.
They were on Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on two counts bordering on conspiracy and unlawful damage of NITEL property.
According to the charge filed before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia by the police, the accused with some persons still at large allegedly committed the offence on October 22, 2013.
The prosecutor, Mr. Goddy Osuyi, told the court that, “the accused on the said date, at Union Bank Car Park, Marina, Lagos, unlawfully disconnected, tampered with, removed and damaged underground cables, belonging to NITEL, the value of which had yet to be ascertained.”
According to Osuyi, the allged culprits violated Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act. Cap C38, Vol. 4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecutor added that the accused were also liable to punishment under Section 1 (11) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17, Vol. 9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
But upon reading the two counts to the accused, the six of them, however, denied the allegations as they pleaded not guilty.
Though, they all applied for bail, only the second defendant, Mmadu, was able to secure bail in the sum of N200, 000.
He was asked to provide two reputable sureties in sums worth the bail amount. The sureties, the court added, were to own landed properties within 200 metres radius of the court.
Meanwhile, the court ordered his prison remand along with the others pending when he would perfect the bail conditions.
The case was subsequently adjourned till March 25, 2015 for trial.
No comments:
Post a Comment