A 76-year-old man, Abdullahi Usman, and two others were, on Thursday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over an alleged attempt to steal a caterpillar, worth N35 million.

The two other defendants arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted stealing before Magistrate Mrs I.O. Raji, were: a businessman, Haruna Saheed, 33 and a 39-year-old trader, Saada Abubakar.

The defendants, who reside in Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states respectively, however, denied committing the offences and were admitted to a bail of N2.5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Raji said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos government.

The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Jan. 17, at 3.30 a.m. at Solomon Ige Street, Command, Lagos.

He said that the defendants attempted to steal an excavator caterpillar, valued at N35 million, property of Larateck Ultimate Ltd.

“The defendants, at night, sneaked into the place where the caterpillar was parked, but were caught in the process of driving it away and taken to the station,” the prosecutor said.

Blasphemy: Court orders Kano State Govt to recall witness

According to Kokoye, the offences violated Sections 406 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 406 stipulates seven years imprisonment for an attempt to commit a felony, while Section 411 prescribes two years for conspiracy.

The magistrate adjourned the case till March 1, for mention.