Two administrative staffers were arraigned before a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja on Thursday for allegedly conspiring to steal N705,750 from their company.

Isifanus Madaki, 27, from Suleja, Niger State, and Joseph Okpe, 26, from Mararaba, Nasarawa State, are standing trial on a two-count charge related to criminal conspiracy and theft.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that Bello Muhammed of Suncity Estate, Abuja, reported the matter at Life Camp police station on September 31.

Mr Nwafoaku said that the defendants, who are both administrative staff at Rabby Recreation Park in Life Camp, Abuja, responsible for handling customer payment transactions, conspired to steal N705,750 from the company.

He mentioned that the money was stolen in instalments by Messrs Madaki and Okpe from April 10 to July 20 but was discovered during an audit of the company’s accounts.

The prosecution counsel stated that during the police investigation, the defendants could not provide a satisfactory account of their actions, and all efforts to recover the money proved abortive.

Mr Nwafoaku added that the offences contravened Sections 97 and 289 of the Penal Code Law.

The Area Court judge, Mohammed Wakili, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N300,000 each, with one surety each in a like sum.

Mr Wakili stated that the sureties must be reliable individuals residing within the court’s jurisdiction and provide their BVN printouts, two recent passport photographs, and valid identification cards, which must be verified by the court registrar.

The judge then adjourned the case until November 14 for a hearing.

(NAN)