Two Agro company staff, Phillip Adenuga and Vincent Akpotor, who allegedly stole N25 million, were on Friday docked before the Ogudu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

The defendants, Adenuga, 29, residing at Mowe-Ibafo, Lagos and Akpotor, 39, residing at Lusasa in Ogun, are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraud.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Donjour Perezi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences before July at plot 11/12, Anibaba St., Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos.

He said the defendants being staff of Mitchell Agro Tech Ltd., stole N25,000,000 belonging to the company.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants usually inflated the price and weight of supplies from farms and sent them to the account of their suppliers for payment.

He said the complainant Jide Obi, on behalf of the company, decided to ask one of their customers to release a copy of their transaction, used to track the fraud.

“It was discovered that the defendants connived with some marketers of live chicken to deceive Mitchell Agro Tech Ltd. and defrauded the company,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offences contravened sections 287(7), 325 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The magistrate, M.O Tanimola, granted them bail of N1 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

Ms Tanimola ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, and their home and office addresses must be verified. The sureties also must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos government.

She adjourned the case until October 28 for mention. 

(NAN)