CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Two men have been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court over alleged conspiracy and theft of goods valued at N6.5 million at the NAHCO Export warehouse, Lagos Airport, Ikeja.
The defendants were Bankole Bayo, 42, and James Anayo Diale, 26. They were brought before the court on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
The Commissioner of Police is the complainant in the matter marked Charge No. 11F123/71/2026. According to the prosecution, the alleged offence occurred in April 2026 at about 11:00hrs.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants and others now at large conspired to commit felony, to wit: stealing at the NAHCO Export warehouse area of Lagos Airport, Ikeja, within the Ikeja Magisterial District.
The first count in the charge sheet stated that the act of conspiracy is contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.
In the second count, the prosecution alleged that the two defendants stole eight cartons containing cow skin, dry meat, melon and kilishi from the warehouse.
The stolen items were said to be the property of one Adesewa Adebimpe. The total value of the goods was put at N6,500,000.
The offence of stealing was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 280(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
The prosecutor, Inspector Adeitan Oluwabunmi, asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove the allegations against the defendants.
The presiding Magistrate, M.A. Agbaje, granted them bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. The case was investigated and handled by officers from the NAHCO Division of the Nigeria Police.