By Ayodele Popoola

An employee of Airtel Nigeria Telecommunications, Mustapha Akande, on Tuesday, appeared before a Chief Magistates’ Court in Akure, for allegedly stealing cable wires worth N2.8m from his employer.

Akande,35, whose address was not provided was charged with stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at various times, between January 16 and May 5, 2025, at Bethel Estate, Oba-Ile, Akure, in the Akure Magisterial district.

He said, “On May 5, Akande reportedly stole a transmission power cable valued at N2,165,000, at the listed Airtel masks: ON8381, OND017, ON0500, and ON0041.

” Also on May 23 at 9p.m, he allegedly stole an earthing cable wire worth N630,000, property of his employer AIRTEL Nigeria Limited.”

Akintimehin stated that Akande was apprehended at the crime scene, and some of the stolen items were recovered by the police.

The offences, according to the prosecutor contravened the provisions of Sections 383, 390(6) of the Criminal Code Law, of Ondo State, 2006.

Chief Magistrate Sunday Adedapo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.

Adedapo adjourned the case to June 1 for hearing.