A 47-year-old public servant, Edward Nkanta, was on Wednesday docked in a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing 203 lastic chairs from a church worth N3.2 million.
The police charged Nkanta with criminal conspiracy and theft by servant.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that on April 24, at about 2:30 p.m., Mr Lawson Wisdom of Apo Legislative Quaters Abuja, reported the matter at Life Camp police station.
Nwafoaku alleged that the defendant connived with Inegbodion Osemudiamen, now at large, and stole 203 chairs from the complainant’s church situated in Kado, Life Camp, Abuja.
He told the court that in 2022, thieves broke into the church and stole two generator, two plasma TV, two trumpets, one violin, one laptop, and piano all valued at N60 million.
The prosecution counsel said that, after the first attack on the church, the complainant hired a security expert to secure the church.
Nwafoaku said during police investigation, the defendant confessed to the crime, saying he only stole the broken chairs in the church.
He said the offence contravene the provisions of sections 97 and 289 of the Penal Code Law.
The Defence Counsel, Charity Nwosu made an oral bail application, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 158 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, assuring that the defendant would not jump bail, if granted.
Nwafoaku, however, did not object to the bail application made by the defense counsel.
The Judge, Malam Muhammed Wakili, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 and one surety in like sum.
Wakili ordered that the surety must provide a BVN print out, recent passport photograph and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.
The judge adjourned the matter until June 22, for hearing. (NAN)
