The police on Tuesday arraigned two men, Samuel Frank and John Awaru at the Life Camp Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly stealing a generator and fumigation machine worth N178, 000.

Frank, 25, a security guard and Awaru, 32, both of Godab Estate in Life Camp are standing trial on a three-count charge, bordering on negligent conduct, joint act and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP. Peter Ejike of the FCT Police Command told the court that one Ifeanyi Chijioke of Kado Village reported the matter at Life Camp Police Station on July 24.

Ejike alleged that Frank, employed to secure the complainant’s car wash and Awaru, a former employee of the complainant, conspired with thieves to burgle the shop.

The prosecutor alleged that on July 24 at about 2:00 a.m., the complainant’s car wash shop was burgled and that several items were stolen.

“The stolen items include, fumigation machine, valued at N58, 000 and a generator, valued at N120, 000.

“Others are: 16 pieces of carpets, belonging to the complainant’s customers, which are yet to be estimated were stolen from the shop.”

Ejike alleged that the two defendants were at the shop when all the items were stolen.

“During police investigation, neither of the two men could give a satisfactory account of how the items were stolen,” the prosecutor said.

According to him, the offences contravened Section 196, 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Chinyere Nwecheonwu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N300, 000 and one surety each in like sum.

Nwecheonwu ordered that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

She said that they should deposit a valid means of identification which must be verified by the court’s registrar.

The magistrate adjourned the matter until Sept. 29 for hearing.