The police on Friday arraigned two mechanics before a Makurdi Upper Area Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and theft of N4.6 million.

Ander Manger and Terhamen Ataan were charged to court after a complainant said they allegedly stole the sum of N4.6 million he kept in the vehicle he left with them for repairs.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Godwin Ato, told the court that on December 20, Igbadoo Nyajo of Adagu Mbaya Tambo Village, Buruku Local Government Area of Benue, reported the case at the ‘B’ Division Police Station, Gboko.

He said the complainant allegedly gave his faulty Peugeot 504 pickup van to the defendants for repairs with N4.6 million inside the car and then took a walk to get an item from a nearby shop.

The prosecutor told the court that during a police investigation, the defendants were found culpable of the crime.

He said the offence contravened Sections 97 and 288 of the Panel Code Law, 2004 of Benue State.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges

The magistrate, Vershima Hwande, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N400,000 each in like sum with a surety each in like sum.

Mr Hwande ruled that the sureties must be civil servants either in the Benue State or federal government service.

He adjourned the case to February 20 for further mention. 

(NAN)