The police in Lagos on Friday arraigned a 40-year-old man, Musa Ademola, before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly tampering with and stealing his employer’s bags of sugar and diesel valued at N44 million.
Mr Ademola, a driver with no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Sp. Josephine Ikhayere told the court that the offences were committed between April 18 and 20 at GPC Energy and Logistics Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos.
Ms Ikhayere said the defendant and another, still at large, dishonestly tampered with 600 bags of 50 kg sugar valued at N44,093,023.
She stated that the 50kg bags were weighed and loaded in with a truck G800, but at the point of delivery and offloading, they weighed 49kg each, adding that the property belonged to GPC Energy and Logistics.
Ms Ikhayere also claimed that the defendant stole 450 litres of diesel valued at N540,000, property of the same company.
She said the offences contravened sections 287(7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The magistrate, L.A Owolabi granted him N700,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Mr Owolabi adjourned the case until June 9 for mention.
