Two Men Steal N5m Nitel Property

A security guard, Timothy Okoh, 40, attached to the Nigeria Telecommunication exchange control room at Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, and his accomplice, Saka Alabi, 32 have been arraigned before the Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Oyingbo, Lagos, on a three-count charge of felony, to wit, stealing and receiving stolen properties.

The police at Adekunle division, Yaba, disclosed in the charge sheet that the accused were arrested on 25 November, 2011 at Alagomeji Street, Yaba, while pushing a truck containing NITEL exchange equipment to his house.

During investigation, he allegedly told the police that he bought them from a security man at NITEL office located on Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos.

He was said to have begged the police to forgive him and offered to give them N50,000 for freedom. The police, P.M.NEWS gathered, refused the offer and followed the accused to the house of his accomplice who was also arrested.

After investigation, they were charged to court for stealing and receiving stolen properties. The offences, according to the prosecutor, Inspector S. Omoyeni are punishable under Sections 409, 285 and 320 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Count two reads: “That you, Timothy Okoh on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, being an employee of Transit Security Limited, contracted to protect NITEL installation, did steal exchange racket and bar iron valued at N5 million.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mr. M. O. Olubi, admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the matter till 11 January, 2011 for mention.

When the accused could not perfect their bail conditions, they were moved to Ikoyi Prisons.

— Paul Iyoghojie