Three tanker drivers, who allegedly stole 33,000 litres of petrol, was on Tuesday, arraigned in an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun.
The three accused persons are: Abdullahi Oladapo, 43; Wasiu Ogunsola, 44 and Gbenga Makinde, 31.
The Prosecutor, Insp Monday Ojiezele, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Dec 6, at 7:05 p.m. at Ibadan- Ife Toll Gate in Ile-Ife.
Ojiezele said that the accused conspired together to steal a tanker load of petroleum product.
He explained that the accused stole 33,000 litres of petrol valued at N4.5 million in a tanker with Reg No. AGL 496 XP, property of Five OS Petroleum Limited, Ile-Ife.
The prosecutor said that the accused also drove recklessly on the highway without an insurance certificate.
Ojiezele said that the offences committed contravened Section 390 (4)(c) and 515 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. 11, Laws of Osun.
He said that the offence also contravened Section 3 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act, Cap 126, Vol IV, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence alleged against them.
The defence counsel, Mr Julius Adeboye, urged the court to grant the accused persons bail in liberal terms.
Adeboye added that the essence of admitting bail to the accused is for him or her to stand his trial and pledged that the accused would not jump bail.
The Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Ijiyode, granted the accusedN500,000 bail each with two sureties each in like sum.
Ijiyode said that the sureties must swear to affidavit of means, and one of them should be a civil servant not below grade level 06, who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned to Feb 10, 2017, for hearing.(NAN)