A magistrates’ court in Kafanchan, Kaduna, has ordered that two friends, Abdulrahman Bala and Zakariya Ayuba, be remanded in prison custody for stealing rail track equipment.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) charged Messrs Bala and Ayuba with criminal conspiracy, mischief and theft.

Magistrate Michael Bawa, who gave the order, adjourned the matter until October 9 for a hearing.

NSCDC lawyer Marcus Audu told the court that the matter was reported to the corps’ office in Kafanchan by the Nigeria Railway Corporation on September 10.

Mr Audu stated that the two men broke into a train wagon at the railway station in Kafanchan and stole the cross-arm, installer, trunk and single core wire.

He said the railway vigilance team later arrested them.

The prosecutor said the defendants admitted committing the crime during the investigation by the commission.

When the charge was read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to call witnesses to prove the case against the defendants.

(NAN)