A 25-year-old storekeeper, Akinbode Gbolahou, who allegedly conspired and stole goods worth over N5m form his employer’s warehouse, was on Thursday docked in a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The police charged Gbolahou, who resides in Lagos Island area, with conspiracy and theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Ben Ekudayo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in December 23 at Jyke Company , Dosumu Street , Lagos Island.
He said the defendant, a storekeeper, who works for Ejike Nwafor, the complainant, conspired with some others and stole goods worth N5. 6 million.
“The complainant said that when he closed his shop around 7 pm, a shop owner, who is his neighbour called to tell him one of the gates to his warehouse wasn’t locked.
“He said he called the defendant who is the storekeeper managing his warehouse to go back and lock the gate.
“He came to the shop the next day to discover the gate was still not locked as he instructed, the defendant never came back to lock it.
“The defendant never showed up and could not be reached on phone until he was arrested,” the prosecutor said.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of section 287(7) and 411 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287 (7)provides seven years imprisonment for servants stealing from their masters.
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Magistrate M.E. Owumi admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Owumi said the sureties must show evidence of gainful employment.
He adjourned the case until February 29 for mention
