By ADAEZE IROHA

Six men were on Wednesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly stealing 50 armoured cables from Dangote Refinery.

The defendants are Abiola John, 25; Daniel Haruna, 28; Barisua Kpurugbara, 42; Philip Msughter, 23; Ashi Ernest, 30; and Peter Zira, 32.

They were charged with conspiracy and stealing but pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, ASP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Feb. 23 at Dangote Refinery Plant at Akodo area of Lagos State.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants stole 50 pieces of segmented armoured cables from the refinery.

She said that the accused were carrying the cables out of the refinery when some people noticed that they did not work there.

She said that the cables had yet to be recovered from the defendants and the value yet to be ascertained as they were of different types.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing, while 411 provides for two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adedayo ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of three years’ tax payment to Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until April 11 for mention. (NAN)