The Police on Thursday, arraigned a 40-year-old security guard, Chigozie Uzoma, before a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing building materials from his employer, Spytech Security Company.
The police charged Uzoma, of Spytech Security Company, Abuja, with theft by servant.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecution Counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that on March 28, Mr Ochefu Baba of Margdec Nigeria Limited, Abuja, reported the matter at Utako Police Station.
Nwafoaku said that, the defendant who was an operative of Spytech Security Company was posted to a site at Libradle Street Wuse 2, Abuja.
He said that he dishonestly stole five buckets of amosil coat water proof, head of water taps, WC tank cover, all valued N220, 000, without the consent of the owner.
The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the defendant admitted to the crime, and further confessed stealing 15 bags of cement from the site in 2022.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 289 of the Penal Code Law.
The Defense Counsel, Simon Cornelius, made an oral bail application, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 158 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, assuring that the defendant would not jump bail, if granted.
Cornelius told the court that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court adding that he has a reasonable surety for his bail.
The Judge, Muhammed Wakili, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.
Wakili ordered that the surety must provide a BVN print out, a recent passport photograph and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.
The Judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 17 for hearing.