Eight workers of Dngote Petrochemical and Oil Refinery, were yesterday, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over offences bordering on conspiracy, willful and unlawful damage of some materials meant for the company.

The workers arraigned before Justice Paul Odo Lifu  on the charges by the Force Headquarters, Abuja, were: Larry Irek; Plus Omeke; Jasper Dick; Gideon Idah; Ojey Jerry Endurance ‘M’, Hassan Saidu; Igwe David and Nweke Chike.

Arraigning the defendants, the Prosecutor, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), told the court that all the defendants and others now at large committed the offences at Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos, in the month of July.

Properties alleged damaged by the defendants include: cables, and assembly of wires designed or used for transforming or converting electricity.

ACP Asuquo told the court that the offences committed by the defendants are contrary to and punishable under section 3 (6) and 1(9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their not guilty plea, ACP Asuquo asked the court for a trial date, while also urged the court to remand all the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charges against them.

Though, counsel to the defendants Makolo Anthony, while not opposed to the trial date as requested by the prosecutor, he however asked the court for a short date, to enable him bring their bail applications before the court.

Justice Lifu, while adjourning the matter till January 21, 2022, for commencement of defendants’ trial.

He, however, said that the defendants can approach the court for the hearing and determination of their bail applications anytime it is filed.

He also ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the custody of the NCoS, till the hearing and determination of their bail application.

The charges against the defendants’  reads, “that you Larry Irek ‘M’, Pius Omeke ‘M’, Jasper Dick ‘M’, Gideon Idah ‘M’, Ojey Jerry Endurance ‘M’, Hassan Saidu ‘M’, Igwe David ‘M’, Nweke Chike ‘M’ and others at large sometime in July 2021 at the Dangote Petrochemical and Oil Refinery Free Zone Export Ibeju Lekki Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire to commit an offence, to wit, tampering with electric cables and you thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Count two read, “That you Larry Irek ‘M’, Plus Omeke ‘M’, Jasper Dick ‘M’, Gideon Idah ‘M’, Ojey Jerry Endurance ‘M’, Hassan Saidu “M’, Igwe David ‘M’, Nweke Chike ‘M’ and others at large sometime in July 2021 at the Dangote Petrochemical and Cil Refinery Free Zone Export, Ibeju Lekki Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did unlawfully remove, tamper, meddle with and interfere with cables, Wire or assembly of wires designed or used for transforming or converting electricity and you thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1 (9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.