Two in Soup for Stealing N16m Tomato Paste in Lagos

Ladipo Sanusi/

Two men suspected to have stolen tomato pastes have been peppered with criminal charges by the police in Lagos.

Forty-two-year-old Ogi Oleje Obadiah and Adeyemi Abaekere, 40, were arrested and arraigned at an Ebute-metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing Vitali Tomato paste valued at N16 million.

Detectives from the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti-Yaba, Lagos, alleged in a charge sheet marked D/72/2017, that the two defenders committed the offence on May 31, 2017.

They allegedly stole 8000 cartons of the tomato paste entrusted in their care for onward delivery to a customer in Kano State by Vital Products Plc.

They were arraigned on four counts charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and forgery.

The prosecuting officer, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, alleged that the two defendants and others at large, forged several documents, including: letter of introduction and delivery guaranteed letter and letter of recommendation of Amonac Nigeria Limited, Netcom Industrial Limited and Richland Nigeria Limited.

The two defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following their not guilty plea, the presiding Magistate, Chief Magistate Oluwayemisi Adelaja admitted them to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties each.

Each of the sureties according to the Chief Magistate must deposit the sum of N100, 000 to the account of Deputy Registrar of the court, with three years tax payable to the Lagos State government.

The matter has been adjourned till September 13, for trial.

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