Six civil servants of the University of Ilorin who allegedly conspired and stole 12,400litres of diesel were yesterday arraigned before an Ilorin magistrate court.

The accused, Oni Oloruntoye, David Abayomi, Komolafe Semiu, Benjamin Ojo, Saliu Kawu and Akinyemi Joshua, all of central power station, University of Ilorin appeared before the court on a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust and theft.

According to the police first information report (FIR), they conspired to steal the 12400 litre of diesel valued 2.8m Naira, between April 30 and 27 May, 2012 from the reservoir tank of the power station at the university without the consent of the university.

The FIR also revealed that the accused had been using jerry cans to siphon diesel from the tank under the pretence that they were assigned to take them to the main campus for use.

Preliminary investigation conducted at the police station revealed that all the accused belonged to a syndicate of staff that stole diesel from the institution reservoir tank where they work.

The prosecutor, Corporal Sani Abdullahi, objected to the bail of the accused and urged the court to remand them at the federal prison pending the outcome of the on-going investigation into the matter.

The defendce, counsel Barrister Kemi Makinde and R. O Balogun, prayed the court to release the accused on bail and on a liberal term, submitting that they would not jump bail and that they were ready to provide reliable sureties to ensure that they stand their trial.

Magistrate S. B. Olanipekun who presided over the matter yielded to the submission of the defence, as he ordered that each of the accused be released on bail at the sum of N50,000 and two sureties each. The court order also that each of the sureties should deposited 2 passport photographs.

The matter will on 17 October, 2012 come up for further mention.