Technician, 25, in court over alleged theft of bank’s property

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a technician, Destiny Okuwaiya, for allegedly stealing a lightning protection system belonging to the Sabo, Lagos branch of a bank.

The value of the system was put at N800,000.

The 25-year-old suspect was said to have been asked by the bank authorities to help upgrade their cyberspace network on the roof of the building.

He was accused of going to where the lightning protection system was installed, unscrewing it and hiding it in his toolbox, not knowing that a staff member was watching him.

Bank workers were said to have allowed Okuwaiya to finish his job before he was asked to open his toolbox for inspection when he was set to leave the premises.

With the discovery of the lightning protection system in his toolbox, the suspect was said to have been immediately arrested and when questioned, he apologised that it was his first time and that the devil led him to commit the crime.

Okuwaiya was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A.O Salawu of the Yaba Magistrates’ Court on two counts of theft on February 26.

The police prosecutor, I. G Oriabure said the offences are punishable under Sections 412 and 287(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2025.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate admitted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till March 9, 2023.