By Gbemiga Olamikan
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has successfully arraigned 16 suspects before the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja. The suspects were brought before the court on January 22, 2025, to face charges of vandalizing critical government property and the unlawful possession of stolen items.
This development follows an intensive crackdown on scrap yards (commonly known as panteka), culminating in the arrest of multiple suspects and the recovery of substantial quantities of stolen and vandalized government assets, including manhole covers, armored cables, and streetlights.
This was contained in a statement signed by Public Relations Officer of FCT Command, Josephine Adeh. She gives names of the arraigned suspects as follows:
a. Abubakar Adamu
b. Emmanuel John Eze
c. Emeka Ezekiel
d. Ahmad Suleiman
e. Dennis Chigozie
f. Ismail Usman
g. Victor Ezeokoye
h. Izundu Fidelis
i. Alex Okechukwu Eddy
j. Jonathan R. Obi
k. Simon Samuel
l. Mubarak Lawal
m. Okafor Ekene
n. Usman Lawal
o. Shuaibu Yahaya
p. James Edu.
SP Josephine revealed that, the arrests were the result of intelligence-led operations conducted across various locations within the FCT. Upon their arraignment, the suspects entered pleas of “not guilty” and have since been remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre, pending further proceedings. The case has been adjourned to January 30, 2025, for continued hearing.
