A 30-year-old scavenger, Mohammed Isah, appeared before a Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, over alleged theft.
The police charged the defendant who resides in Gwarinpa, Abuja, with criminal trespass and theft.
The prosecution counsel, Babajide Olanipekun, told the court that the complainant, Babarinde John, reported the matter at Divisional Police Headquarters, Gwagwa, Abuja on Jan. 21.
Olanipekun said that the defendant unlawfully entered the complainant’s building at Sahara Estate, Karsana village, Abuja and vandalised the electricity cable used in wiring the house.
He said the defendant was caught while he tried to escape with the said cables and a sack, containing a folded iron rod and some wires on the said date.
The prosecution counsel said the complainant stated that his property valued N1, 841, 000 had been dishonestly carted away from his building on different occasions.
The offences he said, contravened the provisions of section 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The defence counsel, Taiye Okoya, cited Sections 36(5)of the 1999 constitution and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), urging the court to grant his client bail.
Okoya assured the court that the defendant would not jump bail and prayed for the court to grant it on liberal terms.
The judge, Muhammad Adamu, however, granted the defendant N300, 000 bail with one surety whom must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
He said the surety must produce means of identification, his address verified by the prosecution counsel and adjourned the matter until Feb. 24 for hearing.