CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 32-year-old man, Nura Dauda Hallam, was on Monday arraigned before a Lagos court over alleged involvement in the theft of two heavy-duty generators valued at N200 million. The charge was filed at the Ikeja Magistrate Court within the Lagos Magisterial District.
According to court documents, the alleged incident was said to have occurred within the Lagos Magisterial District. The prosecution stated that the generators were property of the Eko Atlantic City Project and were represented by Stanley Iyere in court.
The charge sheet indicated that the two Mikano heavy-duty generators were valued at Two Hundred Million Naira, N200,000,000.00. The equipment was described as belonging to the Eko Atlantic City Project.
The charge stated that the act, if proven, would be contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. These sections relate to conspiracy and theft under Lagos State law.
A separate count in the document alleged conspiracy. The prosecution claimed that the defendant and others now at large conspired among themselves to commit the act, which would also be punishable under Lagos State criminal law if proven in court.
Court records listed SP Banti Adamu of the Tactical State Headquarters as the officer handling the matter. Personal contact details have been withheld in line with media and privacy standards.
The defendant pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before the court.
The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to present evidence to support the allegations.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted the defendant bail with two sureties. The court stated that the sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified by the court, which are standard conditions for cases of this nature in Lagos.
The case was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will meet the bail conditions set by the court.
Legal experts emphasize that under the Nigerian law, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. The allegations remain claims by the prosecution until evidence is presented and tested in court.
Eko Atlantic City is a major development project in Lagos. Large infrastructure projects often rely on heavy-duty generators for power during construction and operational phases, making equipment security and asset tracking key operational concerns.
The case is expected to proceed at the Ikeja Magistrate Court. Further hearings will determine the facts, evidence, and decision based on the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.