Five clearing and forwarding agents were on Monday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates' Court in Lagos, charged with stealing large quantities of frozen fish worth N16 million
The defendants — Uawuchola Friday (36), Joshua Mairinga (48), Nwabueze Ogbonna (28), Anslem Ikeokwu (39) and Eze Humphery (40) – are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property.
The prosecutor, ASP Innocent Effiong, alleged that the defendants stole a 40-foot container with 1,400 cartons of fish belonging to one Femi Olawoore.
Five clearing and forwarding agents were on Monday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates' Court in Lagos, charged with stealing large quantities of frozen fish worth N16 million
The defendants — Uawuchola Friday (36), Joshua Mairinga (48), Nwabueze Ogbonna (28), Anslem Ikeokwu (39) and Eze Humphery (40) – are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property.
The prosecutor, ASP Innocent Effiong, alleged that the defendants stole a 40-foot container with 1,400 cartons of fish belonging to one Femi Olawoore.
The prosecutor said that the defendants stole the fish-laden container at Apapa port on March 14 and sold the consignment to Eze Humphery.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Section 285, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Adesola Ikpatt granted the defendants a bail of one million naira each and adjourned the case to Aug. 1 for mention.
Similarly, a 49-year-old clearing agent, Basdon Akabueze, was on Monday docked before the Ogudu Chief Magistrates' Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing 108 pieces of rug carpet worth N2.5m, property of Mrs Grace Azikiwe.
Akabueze, who lives at No. 9, Cole St. Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos, was facing a one count charge of stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Kemi Adeniran, told the court that the offence was committed on Jan. 10, 2008 at No 6, Olaide Benson St., Maryland, Lagos.
“The day the container was cleared by the accused, the complainant, Mrs Grace Azikiwe, could not go due to her busy schedule, she then told the accused to help her monitor the container till the following day.
“On getting there the following day, she discovered that the container had been opened and emptied; then she screamed, but the accused told her not to, that it would be settled.
“The accused promised to pay the complainant the total value of the rug, but was able to pay only N1,720,000 since four years ago,“ she said.
Adeniran told the court that the accused was yet to pay the balance of N780, 000 and has been promising the complainant since that time.
The offence according to the prosecutor contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.
Akabueze pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Chief Magistrate, Yetunde Aje-Afunwa, granted the accused bail of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case to July 18 for mention.
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