MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Management of Reno Superstores has arrested their security guard, Emmanuel Udoh, who took the company’s two loaves of bread worth N2, 000 out of hunger.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 25th April, 2024, at the Reno Superstores branch located at 23/24 Idimu Road, Ejigbo area of Lagos, where the guard, Udoh was employed as security guard.
The suspect, Udoh did not eat the bread as he intended because he was caught and handed over to the Police, who charged him for stealing.
The suspect, Udoh, landed in trouble after he was employed in March, 2024 for an undisclosed amount of money as monthly Salary. But on the day the incident happened, the company was yet to pay Udoh because the month had not ended.
Thus, while he was heavily hungry while on duty, he took the company’s bread and went outside the supermarket to eat before he would return to his duty post.
However, before he would eat the bread, another senior security guard, who saw him through the CCTV immediately dashed out, collected the bread from him and reported to the management that he stole the bread.
The management decided and handed him over to the Police at Ejigbo Division for prosecution to serve as deterrent to other workers who may try such in future.
Despite pleadings by the Police and others who knew about it and offered to pay for the bread, the management insisted that they wanted justice and Udoh should be prosecuted.
Thus, he was charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then 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, K.A.Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till 14th May, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
Reno Superstore is a multi-million outfit with many branches and has different sections including a bakery, electronics, pharmacy, cosmetics, toys, groceries, household appliances section and more.