The police on Tuesday arraigned three security guards before a Grade I Area Court at Mpape in Abuja for allegedly stealing building materials.
The police charged Abullahi Musa, Ibrahim Adamu and Ibrahim Mohammed, all staff of Acouns Nigeria Ltd at Guzape, Asokoro district, Abuja with criminal conspiracy, theft by servant and receiving stolen property.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Prosecution Counsel, Edwin Ochayi, told the court that the case was reported at the Police Station by the Manager of Acouns Nigeria Ltd.
Ochayi alleged that the defendants were employed on the same day as security guards at the company’s building site.
The prosecution added that the defendants stole 48 tonnes of iron rods, 83 pieces of Arco-props (the vertical support system used to support overhead loads), 70 rolls of building wires and 3,780 bags of cement.
He said the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 97, 317 and 289 of the Penal Code.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge, Salihu Ibrahim, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
Ibrahim ordered that the surety must be reliable and must deposit his or her identity card at the court registry for verification.
He adjourned the case until July 9 for hearing.