KINGSLEY EBERE
A 42-year old driver, Tope Ajayi, employed by J3 Food and Store company, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing the company’s food items worth N1m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Akingbade Street, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, where the company is located.
According to the Police, the suspect was employed as the company’s driver and he was bringing and supplying the food items. But along the line, he carted away the items and converted it to his own use before he was caught by security guards.
The management handed him over to the Police at Oke-Odo Division and was detained for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found the driver culpable and subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
“That you, Tope Ajayi ‘M’ a driver of J3 Food and Stores at 24, Akingbade Street, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did steal goods like: Semovita and Spaghetti valued N1,050,000:00K (One Million Fifty Thousand Naira) property of J3 Food and Stores and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 (1) (a) and (b) and punishable under Section 287 (5) (a) (b) and (7) of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Sanusi Adetutu, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.