Court remands seven men for theft

JAbimbola Awogboro of a Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, remanded seven men in custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services ( NCOS), for alleged diversion and stealing of equipment meant for the National Integrated Power Project ( NIPP). The defendants are: Patrick Ocheme Michael; Ashiru Gbolahan Samuel; Kayode Ayebanji; Nurudeen Olanrewaju Abiola; Vincent Sammy; Mutiu Lawal ( aka Are) and Ahmed Olanrewaju ( aka ‘ Owoegbe’).

The judge ordered their remand after they pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, unlawful diversion and stealing of equipment meant for the NIPP, brought against them by the Department of State Security ( DSS).

The defendants were arraigned along with a company, Jokapat Advanced Logistics & Trade Operation Centre Limited, which allegedly belongs to Patrick Ocheme Michael.

The prosecutor, O. O. Fakolujo, told the court that the defendants, sometime in October 2021, at 2nd Rainbow, along Mile 2- Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, conspired among themselves and diverted two 1X20FT containers with Nos: MEDU 6336802 and MEDU 6513169, containing disassembled Steel Electricity Transmission Towers for NIPP, Ikom and Obudu site in Cross River State.

She told the court that the defendants used a truck with registration number XLE- 127

XA, to carry the NIPP equipment, consisting the Steel Electricity Transmission Towers worth over N100 million, and sold it at Owode Onirin, Mile 12, Kosofe Local Council of Lagos State.

The prosecution counsel further informed the court that Mutiu Lawal, aka Are and Ahmed Olanrewaju Azeez, aka Owoegbe, and others now at large, sometime in October, 2021, at Owode Onirin, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, conspired among themselves and received the said equipment, containing pieces and disassembled electricity transmission towers meant for NIPP.

Their offences contravened provisions of sections 516, 390( 4) and 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 ( As Amended). Following their defendants’ plea of not guilty to the charge, the prosecutor, Fakolujo prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in the NCOS’ custody till the determination of the charges against them.

However, the defendants’ counsel, D. O. Ohemu; Babajide Somorim; Ita A. E.; U. I. Izuagie and Mrs. Y. O. Adebanjo told the court that they are not opposed to the trial date, but informed the court that they have filed and served their clients’ bail applications on the prosecution.

However, the prosecution asked for a very short date, to file and serve them a reply.