A 30-year-old man, Popoola Nofiu, was on Monday brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing electric current belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Nofiu, whose address was not provided in court, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
The Prosecutor, Insp. E.O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 24, at 2.00 p.m. at Iyana-Iyesi, Ota.
Adaraloye said that defendant and his accomplices conspired to steal electric current by illegally passing the current from the pre-paid electricity meter to the main building.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 515 of the Criminal Code, Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs A .O. Adeyemi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.
Adeyemi ordered that the surety must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and submit four passport photographs to the court.
She also directed that the surety should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to Ogun Government as part of the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until Sept.10 for trial.