Enugu- The Enugu State Police Command on Monday arraigned Okwuchukwu Njeze, 26; Christian Onuora, 28 and Nkemdilim Chigozie, 31 of Enugu North Local Government Area for alleged theft.
The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge, were arrested for allegedly stealing eight MTN backed-up batteries.
The police prosecutor, Mr Ruben Ihejiobi, told the court that the matter was reported to the Abakpa Police Station by a representative of WOSINA security service, Mr Joseph Omaba, on Nov. 12, 2014.
When the matter came up for hearing, a witness, Mr Leo Bassy, said that during investigation, it was revealed that the first and second accused contracted the third accused, a bus driver, to help them carry some scraps from Timber Market.
According to him, the third accused agreed but while heading to the market, the first and second accused asked him to stop and they entered a nearby bush to bring out the back-up batteries to load them in the bus when the police appeared and arrested them.
He said that the second accused told the police that the two persons who broke into the room where the batteries’ were kept were at large.
The counsel to the accused, Mr Chika Eze, objected to the submission of the statement of the first accused, saying that it was made under duress.
He asked the court to embark on trial within trial.
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He also objected to the tendering of one back-up battery as against the eight batteries the complainant claimed were stolen.
The Magistrate, Mr Chuks Mba, told the counsel that it was late for him to ask for trial within trial and adjourned the matter to Aug. 19 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)
