Federal government through the Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned seven men before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly diverting and stealing equipment meant for the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
The defendants, Patrick Michael, Ashirun Samuel, Kayode Ayebanji, Nurudeen Abiola, Vincent Sammy, Mutiu Lawal (aka Are) and Ahmed Olanrewaju (aka Owoegbe) were docked before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on a four-count charge.
They were arraigned alongside a company, Jokapat Advanced Logistics and Trade Operation Centre Limited, which allegedly belongs to Patrick Ocheme Michael.
The prosecutor, Mrs. O. O. Fakolujo, informed the court that the defendants, sometime in October 2021, at 2nd Rainbow, along Mile 2, Oshodi Express Road, Lagos, conspired among themselves and diverted two 1x20FT containers with Nos: MEDU 6336802 and MEDU 6513169, containing disassembled steel Electricity transmission towers for National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Ikom and Obudu site in Cross River State.
Fakolujo also claimed that the defendants used a truck with registration number XLE-127-XA to carry the NIPP equipment containing the Steel Electricity Transmission Towers worth over N100 million and sold it at Owode Onirin, Mile 12, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State.
The prosecution told the judge that the duo of Lawal and Azeez and others now at large, sometime in October 2021, at Owode Onirin, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, conspired among themselves and received the said equipment containing pieces and disassembled electricity transmission towers meant for National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened sections 516, 390(4) and 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As Amended).
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges Based on their not plea, the prosecutor, Mrs. Fakolujo, asked the court for a trial date and that the defendants should be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the determination of the charge against them.
However, the defence lawyers David Ohemu, Babajide Somorim, A. E. Ita, U. I. Izuagie and Mrs Yemisi Adebanjo, told the court that they are not opposed to the request by the prosecutor.
But they informed the judge that they were in the process of filing their clients’ bail applications.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Awogboro adjourned the matter to June 6 for the hearing of the bail applications and the commencement of the trial.
The judge also ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prison pending the determination of their bail applications.
