Workers steals employer’s items valued N5.9m

By Adebisi Onanuga

Two employees of a frozen food company, were Wednesday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ court, sitting in Igbosere for allegedly stealing goods valued N5,895,500, from their employer, 12 Basket Food Limited.

The defendants, Michael John, 20, and Samuel Nwofor, 23, of no fixed address, are facing a two count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the Police before Magistrate Mrs. M. O. Ope- Agbe.

The prosecutor Cyriacus Osuji told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit the offence.

He said that the incident took place between June 2019 and February 22, 2020, at Block D3, Suit 11\12, Sura Shopping complex, Lagos Island.

Osuji said that the defendants while they were in the employment of 12 Basket Food Limited, stole various items worth N5, 895,500.

He said “The duo stole 250 cartons of chicken valued N10, 000, each per carton, 69 cartons of gizzards valued N17, 000, per carton and 135 gallons of groundnut oil valued N11, 900, each”.

He listed other items that were stolen to include 71 cartons of Maggi valued at N8,700, the total value of the money mentioned above, property of 12 Basket Food Limited.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Ope-Agbe granted them bail in the sum of N1million each, with one surety each in like sum.

She said that the surety must be gainfully employed; show means of identification, evidence of tax payment and have their address verified.

She adjourned the case until March 23.