MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State Command have arrested three suspected scavengers, who went at night, removed distribution transformer cables and threw the residents into darkness.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Oba Akinjobi Way in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The suspects, Mohammed Shuaibu, 27, Mohammed Balama, 26 and Mohammed Sanusi, 33, were said to have stolen the cables in order to sell them as scrap.
However, they were caught after removing the cables and tried to escape. They were handed over to the Police for prosecution over their alleged criminal conduct.
The Police alleged that the suspects conspired, armed themselves with tools and tempered with the transformer by removing the distribution cables thereby preventing the transmission of electricity supply in the area.
When they were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over their conduct, they reportedly admitted to have done so because they had customers who buy the cables as scrap from them.
The Police found them culpable and subsequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
They pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Bisi Ogunleye, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. M.A. Adegbaye, granted them bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned till 4th September, 2023, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.