Two men, Kola Peters and Lasisi Mustapha, were on Thursday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, over the alleged theft of stone-breaking machines worth ₦12 million.
Peters, 53, and Mustapha, 40, whose addresses were not given, are being charged with conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye told the court that Peters and Mustapha committed the offence at about 2:00 pm on January 18, 2013.
Akinloye said that Peters stole stone-breaking machines from his employer, ENL Construction Company, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan. The prosecutor further said that Mustapha received the machines from Peters knowing that it was stolen. He said the offence contravened Section 383, 390(9) and 427 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the laws prescribe a year's jail term for anyone found guilty of stealing and receiving stolen goods. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of ₦5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
Ogunkanmi said that one of the sureties must own a property with a Certificate of Occupancy, while the second surety must be a blood relation of the defendants. She adjourned the matter until December 5, for a hearing.