Three individuals, identified as Ime Essien (49), Nnamdi Obianuka (36), and Chidera Stephen (21), who reside in Lagos, found themselves facing charges in an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Their alleged crime involves the theft of 375 bags of sesame seeds with a total value of N47.5 million.
According to ASP Raji Akeem, the prosecutor in the case, these offenses took place on August 8 at No 9, Warf Road, Apapa, Lagos.
The complainant, Mr. Olubunmi Olumekun, had hired these three men for the task of loading and transporting 375 bags of sesame seeds, weighing 37.5 tonnes and valued at N47.5 million, to various destinations in Lagos and Ogun states.
However, they failed to make the deliveries, and all efforts by Mr. Olumekun to recover his goods proved futile.
The charges against them fall under sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Despite the accusations, the three men entered pleas of not guilty. Chief Magistrate Mrs. Bola Osunsanmi subsequently granted them bail, each with a sum of N3 million and two sureties of equal value. The case has been scheduled for mention on October 23.
