The police on Monday arraigned a 21-year-old man, James Johnson, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into a school and stealing electric wire valued at N265,000.
Johnson, whose address was not provided, is facing a four-count charge of burglary, unlawful entry, stealing and malicious damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Insp. Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendant committed the offences at about 4 a.m. on August 15 at Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti.
Adejare alleged that Johnson unlawfully entered the school premises and stole electric wire valued at N265,000 belonging to the school.
He also alleged that the defendant damaged the school’s ceiling and electricity conduit wiring valued at N80,000, bringing the total value of the items allegedly stolen and damaged to N345,000.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 354 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Isaac Awe, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Awosika, granted Johnson bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties who must be blood relatives.
She adjourned the case until October 15 for hearing.
