Three men arraigned for stealing some cables belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), on Wednesday claimed that they were pushed to commit the crime by hunger and poverty, after pleading not guilty to the charges levelled against them.
The trio; Damola Oyedele (34), Waris Oladitu (21) and Ayobami Ojo (33), told Chief Magistrate Taiwo Olaniran of the Oyo State Chief Magistrate’s Court 1, sitting at Iwo- Road in Ibadan, that they stole the IBEDC cables out of poverty and hunger.
The accused persons and others at large were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and conspiracy prepared by CSP Justin Oke of the Agugu Divisional Police Officer of the Nigeria Police, to which they pleaded not guilty.
The accused persons, who reside at Oje Market, Oje Area of Ibadan, further said that it was the devil that led them into stealing the items just as they prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi had told the court that the accused persons and others now at large conspired together to commit the offence.
ASP Ogunremi alleged that the accused persons, at the same date, time and place, maliciously damaged the cable connected to the transformer serving Oje Market and its environs, valued at N890,000,000, property of IBEDC.
The prosecutor said that the offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 451 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Olaniran granted the accused person bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum with an instruction that the sureties must be traditional titleholders with verifiable addresses.
He, thereafter, adjourned the case till August 30, 2021.
