Two Arraigned For Cable Theft
Two men, Benjamin Ewa Emmanuel Ikechukwu, 32, and Anani Henry, 26, were today, arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for stealing an armoured cable valued N2, 565, 350 million, belonging to a real estate firm, Nicon Town Management Company Plc.
The duo and others now at large, were also accused of stealing the firm’s car and working permit stickers valued N450, 000.
The two defendants were arraigned before the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Aro Lambo, in a charge marked G/50/18, on five counts charges bordering on conspiracy, breaking into building and stealing, by men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the two defendant, who are staff of the company and electrician, and others still at large, conspired among themselves and forcefully broke into the company located at Nicon Town Estate, Lekki Phase 2, between October 2017 and June 2018, and catered away the said cables and sticker.
Barrister Animashaun told the court that the offences committed by the defendants are contrary to and punishable under sections 411, 309 (1) (2), 287 (5) (f), and 287of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The two defendants denied committing the act. Consequently, their lawyers, Peter Agboola and A. O. Alice, urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms.
But the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, pleaded with the court to discountenance the defendants’ bail application and dismiss same, as granting it will jeopardize police efforts in arresting others still at large and that it took the police longer time before they were apprehended.
He however, told the court that I’m case the court is granting the applications, it should be with stringent terms, to guarantee the attendance of the defendants in court.
But the presiding Chief magistrate, Aro Lambo, granted bail to the two defendants in the sum of N200, 000, with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three tax payment to the Lagos State government, with evidence of means of livelihood.
He however ordered that that the prosecutor should verify all the documents submitted by the sureties, while adjourned the matter till August 2, for mention.
Count one of the charge against the two defendants read: “That you Benjamin Ewe Emmanuel lkechukwu ‘M’-Ananl Henry ‘M’ and others now at Large sometimes in the Month of October 2017, at NiCON Town Estate, Lekki Phase ii, Lagos, in Lagos Magisterial district did Conspired together to commit felony to wit: Breaking into Building and committing Felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
“Count three reads: “That you Benjamin Ewa Emmanuel lkechukwu ’M’ Anani Henry ‘M’ and others now at Large sometimes in the Month of October 2017, at NlCON Town Estate, Lekki Phase ll, Lagos, in Lagos Magisterial district did steal a pack of car stickers and workers permit valued Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand (N450,000, only property of NICON Town Management Company Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 (5) (f) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Count 5: That you Benjamin Ewa Emmanuel Ikechukwu ‘M’, Anani Henry ’M’, and others now at Large sometimes in the Month of June 2018, at NICON Town Estate, Lekki Phase ii, Lagos in Lagos Magisterial district did steal a Electrical Armoured Cable valued Two Million, five hundred and sixty Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,565,350,00) only property of NICON Town Management Company Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
