4 Arraigned Over Theft Of N16.5m AC Compressors From 6 BRT Buses At Mile 12 Terminal

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned four men before a Magistrate Court in Ikeja for allegedly vandalising six BRT buses and stealing air condition compressors and cables valued at N16.5 million at the Mile 12 BRT Terminal.

The defendants are Important Bariayaa, 27 years old, Peter Amos, 29 years, Okikiola Olanase, 28 years, and Akinsola Abel, 30 years.

They were arraigned before Magistrate Mr. L.A. Owolabi at the Magistrate Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Magisterial District, in Charge No. B/93/2026, between the Commissioner of Police and the four defendants.

The case was prosecuted by SP Josephine Ihkayere of the District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba.

According to the charge sheet signed by the Divisional Police Officer, Ketu Division, CSP Obeth Hamma H., and prepared by Inspector Kolawole Ogunsuyi, the defendants and others now at large allegedly committed the offences between 11th to 14th July, 2026, at the BRT parking terminal, Mile 12 Market, Ikeja Magisterial District.

Count One states that the four defendants allegedly conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit stealing, contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

Count Two alleges that the defendants stole AC compressors and cables from BRT Bus 130, Bus 021, Bus 030, Bus 131, Bus 144 and Bus 2021, valued at Sixteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira, N16,500,000, property of Teejay Motors Nigeria Limited parked inside the Mile 12 BRT Terminal.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge was approved by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for prosecution.

When the two-count charge was read to the defendants in court, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, thereafter applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendants at the Correctional Centre pending trial, adding that investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate who are still at large.

The defence counsel made an oral bail application on behalf of the defendants and urged the court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms, assuring that they will not jump bail and will be available for trial.

In his ruling, Magistrate Mr. L.A. Owolabi granted each defendant bail in the sum of N1,000,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate ordered that the two sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The sureties must also present valid means of identification and their residential addresses must be verified by the prosecutor.

The court further ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned for mention.

It should be noted that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and the allegations remain subject to proof in court.