Former house of representative member accused of stealing Laptops

 A former House of Representatives member, Nze Chidi Duru has been arraigned in court for allegedly stealing a laptop valued at N250,000

- The ex-lawmaker was arrested and charged to court along with a senior lawyer, Smart Iheazor

- Duru was granted bail on self-recognition

The Nigerian police on Monday, January 16, arraigned a former House of Representatives member, Nze Chidi Duru and a senior lawyer, Smart Iheazor before a Lagos magistrate court on allegation of stealing property of a company, First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL).

Ex-lawmaker arraigned in court for allegedly stealing laptop

The defendants were arraigned before Magistrate Ade Adefulire on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, breach of peace and impersonation.

The alleged offence was committed at N0 65 Kudirat Abiola way, Oregun Ikeja, Lagos and is punishable under Sections 409, 285, 166 (D) and 378 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The former lawmaker was earlier detained at AIG Zone 2 Lagos Command, Onikan last Thursday, January 12, while honouring the invitation of the police.

According to a report by Today.ng, Duru, in company of police escorts, went to the premise of FGPL, on Wednesday, January 11, in compliance with the judgment of Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

In the judgment dated July 18, 2012, Justice Okorowo restrained the National Pension Commission from interfering in the defendants’ business and their consequent removal as directors as well as affirmed Duru’s position as a director in the commission.

In an interview with Duru, he described the whole scenario as ‘laughable’. He asked: “How can a man steal from his own company?”

He explained that he went to the company with police protection to peacefully resume office in line with a subsisting court judgment.

But Police Prosecutor, P. O Idenyenmia told the Magistrate Court yesterday that the defendants and others, still at large, stole three office files and one HP Laptop valued at N250,000 and belonging to FGPL.

The pair, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by Magistrate Adefulire in the sum of N500,000 each with one surety each in like sum. Duru has been granted bail on self-recognition

The case has been adjourned till March 9 and 10, 2017 for hearing in the matter.

Meanwhile, a prosecution witness in court has narrated how he renovated two churches and built a new mosque for former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh in his home town of Vimtim, Adamawa state.

Badeh is standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering of over N3bn alongside Iyalikam Nigeria Ltd, a company believed to be owned by him.