A police corporal, Illumah Christopher, who allegedly misplaced a service pistol, has been arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate Court.

The 37-year-old officer, with force number 385886 attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Patigi, Kwara State, was arraigned on a one-count charge of negligent conduct, contrary to Section 196 of Penal Code Law.

Christopher, who was the divisional armorer, allegedly misplaced a Chief Revolver pistol with number 9D:11044.

According to Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter, the pistol was discovered missing during the administrative process of handing and taking over between the outgoing and the incoming Divisional Police Officer of the Division, DSP Clement Omege and DSP Alabi Amuda respectively.

The FIR stated further that investigation conducted at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Police Headquarters, Ilorin, revealed that the accused, being the divisional armorer charged with the responsibility of safe guarding the divisional arms and ammunitions acted in a negligent manner, which resulted in the loss of the said pistol.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Al-hassan Jubrin informed the court that investigation into the case was still in progress. He, however, left the issue of bail of the accused to the discretion of the court.

The defence counsel, Barrister A.O. Alawaye prayed the court to admit the accused to bail on a liberal term. He submitted further that the accused would always attend his trial.

The Judge, Magistrate I.O. Olawoyin exercised its bail discretion in favour of the accused and admitted him to bail at the sum of N50,000 and two sureties in like sum.

The court held that one of the sureties must be the wife of the accused, while the other, should be a level 7 civil servant within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned till July 4 for further mention.