The Victoria Island Division of the Nigerian Police has arrested a welder and a guard for the alleged theft of cable wires and a generator worth N1,750,000 belonging to Eko Atlantic Project.

Adegbola Olalekan, 37, a welder from Yelwa South in Ogun State and Tajudeen Salawudeen, 34, a guard from Ibadan, Oyo State, were employed by South Energy Ltd to work on the Eko Atlantic Project site in Victoria Island.

The Nation learnt that on the morning of April 8, 2016, Eko Atlantic security officials received a report that thieves were burning some of the company’s cable wires somewhere on the project site in a bid to extract copper.

When the officials got there, they found smouldering remains of cables some of which the thieves had fled with along with a generator.

The matter was reported to the police and after investigation; Olalekan and Salawudeen were arrested and arraigned yesterday before Mrs. F. F. George of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

They are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Prosecuting Police Inspector Ingobo Emby said the alleged offences were committed at about 8:40am on April 8 at Eko Atlantic Project site, Bar Beach, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island.

“On the same date, time and place, they did steal one Elepaq generating set valued at N75,000 and 400 metres of cable wire valued at N1 million. The total value is N1, 750,000, property of Eko Atlantic Project,” he added.

The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendants pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in the like sum, one of whom must be a family member.

The case was adjourned till April 25, for mention.