Five persons on Tuesday appeared before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing drinks worth N11.2 million and receiving stolen property.

The defendants; Steven Imaje; 18, Kelvin Ogbor; 23, Joseph Oloko; 27, Peter Ode; 26 and Bisi Yakub; 48.

The first, second, third, and fourth defendants are facing the first two counts of conspiracy and stealing, while Yakub is being charged with receiving stolen property.

All the defendants except Yakub (last defendant) pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun, ordered the remand of the defendants who pleaded guilty until August 20 for a review of the facts of the case and sentencing.

She admitted the last defendant to bail in the sum of N5 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, DSP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendants and some others still at large committed the offences on or before August 2024 at Bariga in the Yaba Magisterial District.

Ms Momah alleged that the first to fourth defendants stole packs of drinks and water valued at N11.2 million from Mikom Contractor Nigeria Ltd., where they were employed as workers.

She submitted that on August 4, the last defendant (Yakub) dishonestly received stolen drinks from the third (Oloko) and fourth (Ode) defendants.

The offences, Ms Momah said, violate sections 287 (7), 328 (1) and 411 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 411 stipulates two years imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy while 287 stipulates seven years for stealing.

Section 328 attracts 14 years for receiving stolen property.

(NAN)