A 27-year-old bricklayer, Abel Paul and 45-year-old security guard, Paul Onah, were arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court, Wuse, Abuja, for allegedly stealing building materials worth N1,096,000.

The police charged the defendants with criminal conspiracy and theft.

The prosecution counsel, Chinenye Okafor, told the court that the complainant, Fashina Damilola of the site, Plot 680, Cadastral Zone B, Wuye, Abuja, reported the matter at Wuye Police Station on September 11.

Ms Okafor alleged that the defendants conspired and stole 18 length iron rods of 12mm, 76 bags of cement, 25 pieces of marine boards and block moulding machine from the construction site, all valued at N1,096,000.

She said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The defendants however pleaded not guilty

The defence counsel, K.C Nwaigbo made a bail application for the defendants, citing section 165 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to grant it in the most liberal terms.

Nwaigbo said that bail was at the court’s discretion and prayed that same was exercised in favour of the defendants.

The Magistrate, Farida Ibrahim, granted the defendants N500,000 bail each, with one surety each who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Ms Ibrahim ordered that the sureties must produce valid means of identification and write a letter of undertaking to produce the defendants in court when needed

.

She adjourned the matter until October 23 for hearing.

(NAN)