Court remands 3 INEC staff for theft in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has arraigned three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a magistrates’ court sitting in Ilorin. The suspects, Joseph Agena, Babatunde Ambali and Ajadi Iyanda, were arrested by officers of the Adewole Divisional Police Station and later transferred to the Anti-cultism section of the state CID. The trio […]

The Kwara State Police Command has arraigned three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a magistrates’ court sitting in Ilorin.

The suspects, Joseph Agena, Babatunde Ambali and Ajadi Iyanda, were arrested by officers of the Adewole Divisional Police Station and later transferred to the Anti-cultism section of the state CID.

The trio was charged with criminal conspiracy, negligent conduct, mischief and theft which contravene sections 97, 196, 327 and 287 of Penal Code Law.

The Police First Information Report (FIR) indicated that the matter was reported on November 6, 2021, by Ibrahim Abdulwaheed of INEC office, Ilorin that some thieves trespassed into their office and vandalised their transformer and generator.

They were also said to have severed and carted away cable valued at N700,000.

“On November 6, 2021, at about 1am, the duo of Agena and Ambali while on night duty as security guards at INEC office conspired with Iyanda, the technician in charge of electricity and other criminal elements now at large, to vandalise the transformer and generator plants and cables among other valuables.

“Further investigation revealed that the ruptured armoured cable insulator and aluminium wires were recovered from the scene of the crime,” the FIR stated.

Counsels to the three suspects, J.T Bisong, Isaac Omole and T. M. Olaitan, sought bail for their clients.

But the prosecutor, Sanni Abdullahi, objected and prayed the court to remand all the suspects in a correctional centre.

Presiding Magistrate A. O. Idiagbon, ruling over the matter, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to November 24, 2021 for further mention.