Amotekun arraigns 5 over N80m cable theft
By Ayodele Popoola
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Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps have dragged four men before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court for stealing electricity cables and damaging of powerline electricity tower valued at N80m.
The defendants; Quazeem Oyedele, Wasiu Oriade Ogunmola Omotayo, Hammed Yinusa, and Oluwadamilare Olulowo, whose addresses were not provided, are facing three counts bordering on conspiracy to commit felonies, wilful damage, and stealing.
The State Prosecutor, Mr. O.F. Akeredolu, told the court that the defendants committed the offenses on January 5, 2022 at about 11.00 p.m at Igbara Oke, a place within the criminal jurisdiction of the court.
According to him, the defendants and others at large conspired to steal electrical cables, being property of Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN).
He added that the accused also willfully damaged a powerline electricity tower valued at about N80,000,000, property of TCN.
The offences, he said contravene the Provisions of Sections 516, 390(9) and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Akeredolu, therefore asked the court for an adjournment to enable him gather all the prosecution witnesses before the adjourned date.
Counsels to the defendants, Yemi Salawu and C.O Falana appealed to the court to grant them bail on liberal terms, promising that they would not jump bail.
But the prosecutor opposed the application on the ground that the first, second, and third defendants struggled to escape arrest at the scene of the crime.
He also said if granted bail, they would tamper with the evidence. He prayed the court to discountenance with the application.
The Magistrates, Idowu Mayowa consequently granted each of the defendants N400,000 bail with a surety each, adding that they must provide evidence of tax payment to the court.
Mayowa adjourned the case till February 25 for further hearing.