MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 45-year old man, Emmanuel Okojie, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly damaging rail tracks by removing some track pandol clips belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria to sell as scraps.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 24th May, 2025 at Railway line in Agege, Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect went to the place in the early hours of the morning on the fateful day, damaged the rail tracks and forcefully removed the items. He tried to escape before the Police accosted him.
He was then detained at the Railway Police Station at Agege for interrogation over his alleged conduct. He was found culpable after interrogation and then charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Emmanuel Okojie, on the 24th May, 2025, at about 1500hrs at Railway line, Agege, Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did crliminally damage the rail tracks by removing some rail track pandol clips, property of Federal Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 340 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Emmanuel Okojie, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal some rail track pandol clips valued Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N450,000.00) Property of Federal Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sectior. 287 of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
