MICHAEL AKINOLA
Four factory workers at Jandor Bakery have landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly stealing and eating loaves of bread worth over N16m as they were asked to pay the said amount.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the workers, Ayomide Bright, 38, Odey James, 38, Yusuf Adeyemi, 32 and Eze Jude, 38, have been arrested for conspiracy and stealing.
The alleged offence was committed at the bakery located at Arobaba Street, Idimu area of Lagos State, where they were employed as workers.
Their arrest followed a report to the Police at Idimu Division by the management that they stole loaves of bread, which they reportedly ate and took some to their families.
Thus, they were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over their conduct. And during interrogation, the management calculated all the bread that had been lost in the bakery from October 2022 till February 2023 and claimed that they stole 16,096 loaves of bread, 116 bags of flour and industrial milk worth over the N16m and were ordered to pay the money to the company.
When they were unable to pay, the Police found them culpable and subsequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.
Part of the charges stated that the workers between October 2022 and February 2023 did conspire and stole the items worth N16.6m belonging to Attifique International Limited and Jandor Bakery contrary to Section 412 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
They pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then 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 Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu, granted them bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood.
They were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 1st March, 2023, for mention.