Engineer docked over alleged theft of generator parts
A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Monday granted bail in the sum of N500,000 to a 27-year-old engineer, Vincent Igwe, who allegedly stole parts of a generator worth N230,000.
Chief Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere ordered that Igwe should produce two sureties also as a condition for the bail.
Oghere equally directed that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.
The police had charged Igwe with stealing parts of a generator he was paid to repair.
Igwe, whose address was not provided, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of stealing.
According to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, the defendant committed the offence in December 2018 at No. 200, Murtala Muhammed Way, Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
Olaluwoye said that Igwe was contracted by the Alpha Company Ltd. to repair its generator but he removed some parts and returned the generator without the parts.
She submitted that the defendant removed the generator’s coils valued at N230,000.
“My Lord, by the time the theft was discovered by the company, the defendant was no longer reachable.
“His numbers were switched off and he had moved out of his apartment.
“Upon investigation, the police were able to find the defendant and arrest him but the generator coils were, however, not recovered,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stealing contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
It is punishable with three years’ jail term.
The case has been adjourned until June 5 for mention. (NAN)
