CSO Docked For Allegedly Breaking Into Supermarket To Steal N28m Goods

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A Chief Security Officer of Value City Supermarket in Lekki, Lagos, Obikayo Obitayo Abiodun, 35, and another staff of the Store, Emmanuel James Onorjar, 35, has been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Police Zone 2 Command, Lagos.

The duo were arrested and charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly breaking into their employer’s Store after closing hours to steal goods valued at N28,191,000 and fled.

Police alleged that when the complainant, Ilechukwu Okereke, the CEO of the Store arrived the Supermarket the following day to discover that suspected thieves had broken in to steal goods valued at millions of Naira, he swiftly petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG incharge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos AIG Adegoke Fayoade who gave a marching order to his crack team to fish out the fleeing suspects anywhere they might be hiding.

The Police team swung into action and arrested the defendants at a hideout in Lagos through intelligence gathering and tracking.

After investigation by Inspector Awe Friday and his team, the defendants were arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court at  the Tinubu, Lagos Island on a four count bordering on conspiracy, breaking and entry and stealing.

Police prosecuting Counsel, ASP Ibrahim Haruna told the Court in the charge marked P/25/2025 that the defendants committed the offence between 31 December, 2024 and 9 January, 2025 at the Supermarket located at 12/14 Orchid/Eleganza Bus Stop Area of Lekki,  Lekki, Lagos.

Haruna informed the court that the defendants broke  inside their employer’s supermarket to steal goods after the supermarket had closed for the day.

He said the offences, the defendants committed were punishable under sections 411, 309(1)(2) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2025.

The defendants, however  pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate, A.O Alogba  granted them N1m bail each with two surties each in like sum.

Alogba adjourned the case till 23 May, 2025 for mention and ordered that the defendants be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional facility till they perfected the bail conditions.