A tanker driver and three motor boys were on Monday arraigned in the Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court over the alleged stealing of 600 litres of petrol valued at N552,000.

The defendants are charged with felony, stealing, and breach of peace.

The defendants, whose addresses were not given, are Ayodeji Matthew, 35, Ayinde Kehinde, 31, Afeez Ganiyu, 26, and Sodiq Babalola, 23.

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

The prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 17 along the Badagry expressway, Lagos.

Mr Adeosun said the defendants conspired to commit a felony, to wit, stealing.

He said the defendants allegedly stole 600 litres of petrol from the tanker, valued at N552,000, which is the property of Eric Investments Ltd.

“The defendants sold the petrol on their way, not knowing that the owner would gauge it.

“When the complainant discovered that the petrol had been stolen, he ordered the arrest of the defendants,” the prosecutor said.

“The offences contravened sections 411, 287 and 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015,“ he said.

The chief magistrate, Patrick Adekomaiya, granted the defendants N300,000 bail each, with two sureties in like sum.

Mr Adekomaiya adjourned the case until June 2 for mention.

(NAN)