Three men have been dragged before Justice Adebukola Olajide of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and diversion of 33.360 metric tons of cocoa beans worth N97,578,000.
The suspects were charged by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Disclosing this, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, identified the defendants as Lateef Jamiu Babatunde, Olanipekun Olawale Joseph, and Oyetunde Abioye Ibrahim.
According to the image maker of the agency, the trio were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and diversion of 33.360 metric tons of cocoa beans worth N97,578,000.
He added that they were arrested based on a petition.
Prosecution counsel Damilare Odemuyiwa asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the court remand the defendants in the correctional centre pending their date of trial.
Counsel to the defendants, Alabi Ogor, however, informed the court of his bail application.
Justice Olajide then granted the defendants bail in the sum of ten million naira each and two sureties in like sum each.
Similarly, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Niger State Command has denied any involvement in the loss of a telecom mast in the state.
Mr Elijah Etim, the state Commandant, stated that the main suspects have already been identified and are being pursued.
Etim informed reporters on Wednesday in Minna that the investigation had found that a scrap dealer named Bello Mustapha, assisted by two NSCDC personnel, was most likely involved in the crime.
Etim stated that a recent media allegation stating that he conspired with two officials to remove and sell the mast was completely incorrect.
According to him, Mustapha approached two NSCDC members, one assigned to Niger command and the other to Kaduna State command, using falsified documents, for cover to evacuate the mast.
He stated that the mast was in Rafi Local Government Area.
“However, the command was shocked to hear over the media that the tower was confiscated by men of the command and the commandant sold it and that some parts of it are in Lagos. It is not true,” he said.