A 25-year-old storekeeper, Akinbode Gbolahan, who allegedly conspired and stole goods worth over N5 million from his employer’s warehouse, was on Thursday arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The police charged Mr Gbolahan, who resides in the Lagos Island area of Lagos, with conspiracy and theft.

The prosecution counsel, ASP Ben Ekudayo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on December 23 at Jyke Company, Dosumu Street, Lagos Island.

He said the defendant, a storekeeper who works for Ejike Nwafor, the complainant, conspired with some others and stole goods worth N5.6 million.

“The complainant said that when he closed from his shop around 7 pm, a shop owner, who is his neighbour, called to tell him one of the gates to his warehouse wasn’t locked.

“He said he called the defendant, who is the storekeeper managing his warehouse, to go back and lock the gate. He came to the shop the next day to discover the gate was still not locked as he had instructed; the defendant never came back to lock it.

“The defendant never showed up and could not be reached on the phone until he was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

The offence, he said, contravened sections 287(7) and 411 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The section 287 (7)provides seven years imprisonment for servants stealing from their masters.

Magistrate M.E. Owumi admitted the defendant to N500,000 bail with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The magistrate said the sureties must show evidence of gainful employment.

He adjourned the case until February 29 for mention.

(NAN)