Two men, Friday Eneogwu, 72 and Valentine Okechukwu Ugumba, 65, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing (40) pieces of 7 KVA Inverter Batteries worth over N250m property of Solar Chain Labs System.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between 20th day of April, 2024 and 9th December, 2024 at No. 3 Obasa Close off Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, where the company is located.
According to the Police, the suspects conspired with others now at large and stole the items before the company later discovered that the items were missing after an internal audit.
The matter was reported to the Police, who moved into action, eventually arrested the suspects and detained them for interrogation over the missing items.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrat Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Friday Eneogwu ‘m’, Valentine Okechukwu Ugumba ‘n’ and others now at large between 20th day of April, 2024 and 9 December, 2024 at No. 3 Obasa Close off Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Friday Eneogwu ‘m’, Valentine Okechukwu Ugumba ‘m’ and others at large on the same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal forty (40) pieces of 7 KVA Solar Inverter Batteries valved Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Million Naira (#250,000,000.00) property of Solar Chain Labs System and thereby committed and offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Iberedem John, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.