Clerk, Others Arraigned For Allegedly Stealing N10m Goods

A Clerk with Captino Global Concept Ltd., Chidima Ibe, 18, was on Wednesday charged before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over an alleged N10 million theft.

Four other persons charged with Ibe were: Chijioke Ibe, 21; Chukwudi Enyiegbulem, 22; George Ibe, 53; and Chidozie Nwosu, 23.

The first accused, Ibe, the clerk, was alleged to have stolen N10 million worth of goods belonging to her employer, one Clement Ayika.

The fifth accused, Nwosu, was accused of receiving the stolen goods, while the other accused aided and abetted the alleged crime.

The accused are facing a five-count charge of felony, stealing, conspiracy, forgery and receiving stolen goods.

They all, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Insp. Clara Olagbayi, said that the five accused persons conspired and allegedly stole 709 cartons of Diva soap, property of Ayika.

Olagbayi told the court that the first accused, Ibe, the clerk, used her position to obtain the invoice booklet of her employer.

She said that the accused clerk allegedly forged the company stamp to prepare the waybill for the stolen goods.

She said that the other accused conspired with the first accused and used the waybill to move the alleged stolen goods to the receiver’s shop.

The prosecutor said that Nwosu allegedly received the goods, knowingly that they were stolen.

She told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offences on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, at Atiku Warehouse, BBA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.

The prosecutor said that their offences contravened Sections 285 (9), 326, 368 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja granted each of the accused N300,000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties should show evidence of their tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

Adelaja adjourned the case till April 23 for hearing.