Man, 26, jailed 8 years over transformer coil theft

One Nasiru Lawan, 26, of Tsamiyan Lilo area of Damaturu, has bagged an eight-year jail term for stealing transformer coil wire weighing about 37kg and valued at about N1 million at the Government Girls Unity College, Damaturu, Yobe State. 

The convict was charged on October 11, 2024, before Justice Fadima Murtala-Aminu of the Federal High Court, Damaturu by the NSCDC prosecution counsel, Barrister Jidda Abdulqadir, on two count charges bordering on tampering, removal and theft of transformer coil wire filed in case No: FHC/DM/CR/40/2024.

The NSCDC prosecution was able to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt with veritable witnesses and exhibits from the intelligence and investigation department of the command.

The convict, along with one other (still at large), vandalised the transformer at the school on September 8, 2024 and on the following day, Nasiru Lawan was arrested at the point of selling the copper coil wire. 

While passing the sentence, the judge decried and frowned upon the general activities of vandals in the state, describing them as economic and social welfare saboteurs. She urged security agencies to foster the existing collaboration to stem their nefarious activities.

The judge expressed special thanks to the NSCDC commandant and his supporting staff as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Correctional Service for seeing through the successful prosecution of the case.