The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded a former staff of NITEL Communication, alongside 11 others over allegations of vandalism, criminal conspiracy and illegal sale of equipment of the telecommunication company.

Speaking while parading the suspects, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Pedro Ideba, said two of the accomplices of the former NITEL manager, Mr Benedict Uwulekhue, also allegedly offered N140,000 bribe to NSCDC officers to stop criminal investigation of their alleged offences.

Mr Ideba said some of the equipment allegedly sold to two suspected buyers in the Ilorin metropolis included vandalised high tension cables, electricity transformer and containerised transmitter.

He recalled that the defunct NITEL Company in the state capital still had some telecommunication equipment in its premises, saying that the arrested suspects include three security men on guard at the company.

The NSCDC officials inspected the houses, where the alleged vandalized equipment were kept but had no option but to climb the fence of one of the suspect’s house in order to gain access to where some of the alleged vandalised equipment were kept.

The NSCDC boss, who said the buyers of the NITEL equipment could not produce document to authenticate ownership of the items, added that it was during further investigation into one of the buyers’ house that two industrial electricity generating plants belonging to government were discovered.

He also said that the security men attached to the NITEL premises had confessed to the crime, adding that all the accused persons would be arraigned in court after conclusion of investigation.

The former NITEL Territorial Manager bluntly refused to give details of what transpired but maintained his innocence that he did it in good faith.

One of the alleged buyer, Chukwudi Mba, identified as auto electrical dealer, said he bought the items from auction sale organised by NATCOM in April this year, adding that he had documents.

The industrial electricity generator he said was bought at N650,000 each and the containerised NITEL transmitter and high tension cables at N700,000. (Channels TV)

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