Court Jails Man 5 Years For Vandalising Bridge Railings

The chief judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has convicted and sentenced an artisan, Abubakar Jaji, to five years in prison without an option of a fine for damaging the iron rails on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Justice Tsoho handed down the verdict after Jaji pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of vandalism brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

LEADERSHIP recalls that in August last year, Abubakar was previously charged with vandalising the same bridge’s railings and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu.

During that trial, he admitted removing over 35 pieces of railing and selling each for N25,000 to N30,000.

During Thursday’s arraignment, the EFCC prosecutor, Suleiman Suleiman, informed the court that the convict maliciously damaged iron rails on a bridge on September 27, 2025.

Suleiman claimed that the offence of vandalism is in violation of section 1(6)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP. M17, Laws of Nigeria, 2004.

Based on the guilty plea of the convict, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict him based on evidence and the law

With no objection from the defence, Justice Tsoho sentenced the convict accordingly.

In his plea for leniency, the defendant’s lawyer stated Abubakar is remorseful and committed to change.

After listening, Justice Tsoho sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment without a fine.