By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos – An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on Lagos Island on Tuesday remanded a boat driver and ex-convict, Emeka Igwe, and a bus driver, Taiye Ajayi, in Ikoyi Prisons for stealing cables worth N500,000 from Eko Atlantic project site, Victoria Island.
The duo — Igwe, 25, and Ajayi, 28 — of Maruwa Ghetto, Victoria Island, pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
Following their guilty plea, the Magistrate, Mr W. B. Balogun, remanded them in prison for sentence.
Earlier, Police Prosecutor Ingobo Emby, told the court that the duo committed the offences on April 15 between 5.30 a.m. and 7.30 a.m. at Eko Atlantic project site.
The accused were caught by the security guards at the project site digging and cutting the cables, he alleged.
He said they were caught in their escape bid by the guards, who took them to the Victoria Island Police Station.
He said: “They are notorious cable thieves and had been arrested for the same offence several times.
“The first accused, Igwe, has been prosecuted and convicted by this court twice for stealing cables from Eko Atlantic project site.
“On both occasions, he was given community service and after serving his sentence, he went back to the same crime.”
Emby said the cables were the property of a firm on the site — ITB Construction Company.
The offences contravened Sections 285 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years for stealing, while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.
The case was adjourned until April 21 for facts and sentence.