A magistrates’ court in Dutse, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered that a tiler, Abdulsalami Idris, should be remanded in police custody for alleged theft and causing grievous injury to a security guard.

The police charged Mr Abdulsami, who lives in the Apeh axis, Tungamaje village, Abuja, with theft, mischief and causing hurt.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

Following Mr Idris’ guilty plea, Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Alkali ordered that the scale of the damage and the total worth of the machine destroyed by the convict should be established and presented in court.

Mr Alkali deferred the matter until June 15 for sentencing.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Babajide Olaonipekun, informed the court that on June 1, Salisu Idris, the security guard at the company where the defendant broke into, reported the matter at the Tungamaje Divisional Police Headquarters, Abuja.

He said that the defendant gained entrance to the premises by scaling the company’s fence.

He said that the defendant stole compressor pipes from a cold room machine and maliciously damaged the machine components.

The police said the defendant hit Mr Salisu with a sharp object on the head while trying to escape after being caught stealing.

Mr Olaonipekun said that during police investigation and interrogation, the defendant confessed to the crime.

He stated that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 287, 327 and 244 of the Penal Code Law.

The police said the value of the damage to the property had yet to be determined.

(NAN)