Eight security guards were on Thursday docked in a Wuse Zone Six Chief Magistrates’ Court for stealing armoured cables from the World Trade Centre in Abuja.

The police charged Malik Micah, Victor Samuel, Bitrus Daniel, Sunday Abuka, Francis Joel, James Dickson, Sule Emmanuel and Musa Igbita with criminal conspiracy and theft.

The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

The complainant, Emmanuel Aigbedion, also a security guard with the trade centre reported the matter at the central police station on September 29.

Prosecution counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe, told the court how Mr Aigbedion was on routine patrol when he noticed a suspicious movement of the first defendant, Mr Micah.

The prosecutor further stated that Mr Aigbedion kept a close watch on Mr Micah until he went into one of the stores and removed two heavy armoured cables.

He said Mr Micah thereafter exited the gate mounted by the second defendant, Mr Samuel.

The prosecution counsel said after Mr Micah was arrested in the nearby bush with the stolen cables, he admitted that the third to fourth defendants were part of the conspiracy to commit the crime as they had benefited from the proceeds of similar crime.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 289 of the Penal Code.

The magistrate, Ekpenyong Okon, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 and a surety whose affidavit of means and address must be verified by the court’s staff.

Mr Okon adjourned the matter until October 20 for hearing.

(NAN)