The police on Wednesday arraigned three men before the Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing their employer’s 40-feet container of cashew nuts valued at N41 million.

The defendants are Segun Ayoola, 39, a motor boy; Usman Yusuf, 36, a driver; and Musa Bello, 38, a driver.

The defendants, who live in Bariga, Ajegunle and Okokomaiko axis of Lagos, are being tried for conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on March 14 at Second Rainbow Area, Apapa, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the defendants allegedly diverted their employer’s, Eslieke Investment Ltd., 40-feet consignment of cashew nuts to another direction at Abule Egba road, Lagos.

Mr Akeem told the court that the defendants were supposed to deliver the consignment to one of the company’s customers at Iyana-Iba, Lagos.

The prosecutor alleged that security personnel arrested the defendants at  Ile-epo market, Abule Egba Road, Lagos, as they were attempting to sell the goods.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The chief magistrate, Bola Osunsanmi, granted the defendants bail of N300,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate, however, adjourned the case until July 18 for mention.

(NAN)