A 38-year-old gardener, Ahmed Bawa, on Tuesday appeared before a Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing a company’s caterpillar spare parts and diesel worth N8 million.

The police charged Mr Bawa of Judges Quarter, 6th avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja, with joint act and theft.

The defendant, however, denied the allegations

The prosecution counsel, Charity Nwachukwu, told the court that on November 23, the complainant, Dauda Ali of Gabari Construction Ltd., Abuja, reported the matter to the Gwarinpa Police Station.

Ms Nwachukwu said that the defendant, who conspired with others now at large, dishonestly vandalised the company’s caterpillar parked near its gate at Gwarinpa.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant dishonestly made away with the caterpillar battery, one key starter, engine fan and vehicle alternator.

Ms Nwachukwu alleged that the defendant also punched the caterpillar fuel tank and made away with the diesel inside the tank and all valued N8 million .

Ms Nwachukwu said during police investigation, the defendant could not give a satisfactory account of his actions, stating that the said caterpillar battery was recovered from the defendant.

She added that efforts made to recover the stolen diesel and other spare parts proved abortive.

She said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Musa Jobbo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum.

Mr Jobbo ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and produce reliable means of identification.

He ordered that the sureties addresses must be verified, adjourning the case until February 9 for hearing.
(NAN)