PHCN Employees Docked Over Alleged Theft

Three employees of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and one other, have been charged with the theft of two transformers valued at N3.9 million before a Magistrate Court in Lagos.

The accused, Ademola Aluko, 30; Solomon Udoffiah, 29; Kehinde Odukoya, 30; and Okechukwu Eze, 55, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, ASP Felix Ifijen said that the accused committed the offences between February 1 and October 17, 2012.

Ifijen said that the three PHCN employees used their offices to falsify documents, which led to their having illegal access to two transformers, which they then sold.

He said that the workers obtained the 500KVA and 300KVA transformers, property of the company valued at N3.9 million, which they subsequently sold to their accomplice.

He said, “the purchaser, one Mr Eze, who was fully aware that the transformers had either been stolen or fraudulently obtained, but agreed to purchase them.”

The prosecutor said that the offences, committed within the premises of the PHCN, Eko district, Lekki, Lagos, contravened Sections 285, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The accused, who reside at Abule Osun, Badagry Expressway; Gbara Town, Lekki; Sawmill area, Gbagada and Badore in Ajah respectively, however, entered a not-guilty plea and were granted bail.