Police arraign four for destruction of rural electrification projects in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arraigned four men in Upper Area Court Wamba for alleged destruction of the ongoing rural electrification projects of the Federal Government.

Addressing the court in Wamba Local Government Area (LGA), Police Prosecutor, Insp. Murtala Agbo, said the suspect destroyed the ongoing electrification projects in the boundary between Chigbu and Mama communities of Wamba LGA.

The Prosecutor told the court that the suspects; Babale Usman, John Vicko, Àyuba Awa, and Joseph Musa we’re all in court except John Vicko.

Insp Agbo said the project worth N24.9 million was awarded by the FG to provide electricity to the Chigbu community.

He added that it was destroyed because the land was said to be in dispute between the two communities.

Counsel to the accused persons, Yahana Samba, filed a preliminary objection that the court should strike out the case for abuse of court rules and contempt.

The counsel argued that there is already a case between the two communities before the same court over land dispute where the project is sited.

Sambar said the court had already directed all parties to stay away from the disputed land and wondered why the contractor began the project in the land.

He said when a matter is already before a court, nobody can still bring a case related to the same matter to court hence his call that the case be struck out.

After listening to the arguments by the prosecutor and counsel to the accused, Presiding Judge Timothy Akolo adjoined the case to December 8 for the adoption of application for preliminary objection.

Meanwhile, Counsel to Prudence Nigeria Limited, and the contractor handling the project, Isaac David, told newsmen that counsel to the accused served them with preliminary objection this morning and they need time to study it and respond.

Emmanuel Ukoh