On Wednesday, a 40-year-old security guard, Moses Hassan, was arraigned in a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for stealing building materials worth N4 million.

Mr Hassan is standing trial for criminal conspiracy and stealing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences at a construction site in Karji in Kaduna on March 31.

Mr Leo said the defendant, a security guard at the construction site, conspired with others now at large to break into the storeroom and steal some building materials.

He said the defendant and his accomplices stole foreign wooden doors, 15 cartons of tiles, a generator and an aluminium cutting machine, all valued at N4 million.

The prosecutor said that the defendant broke the store door as a cover-up for the theft and then claimed to have been attacked by armed robbers.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 58 and 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

Section 58 attracts a prison term of not less than one year or a fine not less than N25,000, while Section 217 attracts imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or a fine or both if found guilty.

The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Mr Emmanuel said the sureties must have a reasonable means of livelihood and should be residents within the court’s jurisdiction with a traceable and verifiable work address.

He said the sureties must also provide the court with evidence of two years of tax payment to the Kaduna government.

Mr Emmanuel adjourned the case until May 15 for a hearing.

(NAN)