Abuja: Two artisans were on Tuesday arraigned in a Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly stealing iron pipes from the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. The police have charged Victor Obeka and Monday Maham with criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, mischief, and theft. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Prosecution Counsel, Charity Nwachukwu, informed the court that the complainant, Mr. Thompson Nicholas of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, reported the incident at the Wuye Police Station on May 9. Nwachukwu revealed that around 9 p.m. on May 9, the defendants trespassed into the stadium, destroyed, and stole iron pipes valued at N2 million.
She stated that the stadium’s internal security guards apprehended the defendants at the stadium gate as they attempted to flee. During the police investigation, the defendants reportedly made confessional statements admitting to the crime. Nwachukwu noted that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97, 348, 327, and 287 of the Penal Code Law.
Chief Magistrate Musa Jobbo granted the defendants bail set at N500,000 each, requiring two sureties each in like sum. Jobbo stipulated that the sureties must be property owners in the FCT and present their documents for verification in the court registry. He further directed that the sureties must provide reliable means of identification and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.