Man, 22, Arraigned For Vandalizing N2m Railway Cables & Selling As Scraps 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 22-year old man, Peter James, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly damaging and stealing Nigeria Railway Corporation cables worth N2m and selling them as scraps to one Kamilu Lawal, 26.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 7th February, 2026, at the railway line at Ikeja Along, Lagos.

While the suspect, James, was charged for malicious damage and stealing, the second suspect, Lawal, was arraigned for receiving stolen items under the Criminal Law of the State.

According to the Police, the suspect, James, stole the items at night and sold them to Lawal for an undisclosed amount of money and escaped.

However, the information leaked and he was arrested by the Police at railway station and detained for interrogation over the missing items.

While being interrogated, he revealed that he sold the items to Lawal and the Police arrested Lawal as well. They were consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT I: “That you, PETER JAMES ‘M’ on the 7th February, 2026 at about 0110hrs at Ikeja Along, along the railway line, Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did criminally damage railway cables, properties of the Federal Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 340 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

COUNT II:”That you, PETER JAMES ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal railway cables valued Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,500,000.00) belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”

COUNT III:”That you, KAMILU LAWAL’M’ on two occasions between January and February 2026 in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did receive the railway cables, properties of Federal Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 328 (i) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”

However, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Christopher John, 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, M A. Agbaje, granted them bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.