Four sales reps face N23m cocoa theft charge

The police in Lagos on Tuesday arraigned four sales representatives, Giwa Yusuf, Lateef Ayodeji, Ayoola Saheed and Saheed Adekunle, for allegedly stealing their employer’s  400 bags of cocoa seeds worth N23 million.
Yusuf, 38; Ayodeji, 43; Saheed, 35; and Adekunle, 41 are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Godspower Ehizoba, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on December 23, 2019 at Kilometre 12, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Ehizoba said the defendants stole the cocoa seeds, belonging to the complainant, Valency Nigeria Limited.
“The defendants sold the product but converted the proceeds to their own use,” the prosecutor said.
He said the offences contravened Section 287 (7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287(7) stipulates seven years jail term for stealing from one’s employer, while Section 411 provides two years imprisonment for conspiracy.
The Magistrate, Folashade Botoku, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties each in like sum.
Botoku ordered that the sureties should provide evidences of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
She, thereafter, adjourned the case till March 9 for trial.