court and gavel

Alleged Transformer Thieves Plead Not Guilty, Granted N1 Million Bail Each By Ikorodu Court

Three men were arraigned on Tuesday before the Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing an electricity transformer worth N50 million.

The defendants, Kehinde Akinkugbe, Tope Salisu, and Isiaka Amusa, are facing three counts of conspiracy, stealing, and malicious damage, preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that the defendants committed the offences around 2:30 a.m. on August 22, 2024, at Ajeri Street, Ijede, in Ikorodu, Lagos.

“The defendants maliciously damaged an electricity transformer belonging to the Federal Government,” Isaac said.

He added that the residents apprehended the defendants, who then reported the incident to the police.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 287 and 339 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

However, the trio pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Consequently, Chief Magistrate A.B. Olagbegi-Adelabu granted the defendants bail of N1m, each.

The Magistrate also required two sureties for each defendant, one of whom must own landed property and provide evidence of three years of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.