Six factory workers and two others have been arraigned before an Ebute-Metta chief magistrate’s court, sitting in Oyingbo for allegedly stealing 24 drums of chemical worth N24 million.
The accused are Mark Ekpo, 35; Gbenga Soyombo, 37; Akindolire Tobi, 26; Emmanuel Emordi, 32; Ogunbayo Seyi, 47 and Bright Hassan, 27.
Others are Kingsley Uchegwam, 26 and Christian Onyekaozulu, 40, who were alleged to have bought and received the said stolen chemical.
They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving of stolen goods preferred against them by the Police.
The prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, told the court that six of the defendants made up of of security men, store keepers and drivers conspired to commit the offence between July 2013 and June 2014, while they were working with N. N. FENS Industries Limited.
He said they conspired to steal the said chemical known as Lanolin and menthol, property of the company, located at Wemco Road, in Ogba area of Lagos.
Nwosu also said two other defendants were alleged to have bought eight drums of lanolin and one drum of menthol from Mark Ekpo, a store keeper with the company, at N800,000 and N100,000, respectively, knowing that the products were stolen.
According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under Sections 409, 283(7) and 326 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The defendants’ counsel, Melda Adebambo, Spurgeon Ataene and S.O. Elimieh urged the court to grant the defendants bail in the most liberal terms.
Magistrate E. O. Ogunganmi admitted the six factory workers to bail in the sum of N1 million each with two responsible sureties each in like sum, while the two buyers were admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000, with one responsible surety each in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till September 29. [Vanguard]
