5 men charged with stealing bags of rice worth N50m

Five men, who allegedly stole N50 million worth of bags of rice, property of their employer, were on Thursday charged before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The five men -- Azeez Akinlade, Mutiu Olajide, Suleiman Inaboya, Shefiu Lawal and Richard Akpan --- are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, ASP Effiong Asuquo, told the court that the five accused persons and others, who are still at large, allegedly committed the crime between 2011 and Oct. 2012.
“They are employees of Lakeem Nigeria Ltd., Lagos,  a rice-importing company owned by Mr Lawal Akeem.
``They were able to steal bags of rice from sometime in 2011 until they were caught in October 2012,” he said.
Asuquo explained that it was an internal audit initiated by the management of the company that exposed the activities of the accused and their accomplices.
He said the offences contravened sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Adedayo, granted each accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case to Dec. 19.
Also, a 64-year-old man, Alhaji Muhammed Adeniji, who allegedly defrauded his victim of N3 million, on Thursday appeared before Adedayo.
The prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Okoye, told the court that Adeniji and others still at large committed the offence on May 25 at No. 64, Nnamdi Azikiwe St., Lagos, Island
“Ibikunle Olusegun, a staff of Gazolak Nig. Ltd, Lagos, gave the sum of N3 million to Adeniji and his accomplices, who are estate developers, to renovate a property at No. 56 Dosumu St., Lagos Isla
 ``But they never did any work and refused to refund the money to him,” he said.
Okoye said the offences contravened sections 409 and 312 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.
Adeniji, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
 The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum and also adjourned the case to Dec. 19.