Three men were on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing 1,900 empty drums, valued at N9 million.
The accused men, Sunday Adeoye, 46, Bamidele Oluwaseun, 34, and Taiwo Adekunle, 50, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
They reside at Ijaiye in Ogba, near Lagos.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Raji Akeem, told the court that the offences were committed between December 2017 and March 2018 at the premises of their employer, Stellar Beverages Ltd. at Ogba.
Akeem said that the accused people were in charge of the store where the empty drums were kept.
“The three accused men were sighted in the night by security guards on duty when they were bringing out drums though the back door.
“They were apprehended by the security guards but later it was discovered that 1, 900 empty drums were missing and the accused persons confessed to have been stealing the drums since December, 2017.’’
The prosecutor said that the 250 litres drums, property of Stellar Beverages Ltd., were valued at N9 million.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused men, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi, granted them bail in the sum of N2 million bail each with two sureties in like sum.
Adeyemi-Ajayi adjourned the case until May 23 for mention. (NAN)