3 men in court for allegedly stealing salt

Three men: Musa Garuba, 48, Abdullahi Yahaya ,36, and Anans Adamu, 23, who allegedly stole crude salt, valued at N929,000 on Tuesday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Garuba, driver; Yahaya, bus conductor and Adamu, bus conductor were arraigned before Magistrate, Mr J. A Adigun, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The three accused, however, pleaded not guilty and were admitted to a bail of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

Adigun said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, said the accused committed the offences on Oct. 1 at Ikosi Road, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that the accused conspired to steal crude salt, valued at N 929,000, a property of Dangote Group of a company.

“The accused stole the complainant’s goods,” he said.

Awase said that the first accused, Garuba, who was one of the company’s drivers loaded his truck with crude salt and absconded with the goods to unknown destination.

“The accused loaded the truck with the goods from Apapa Port, to be delivered at Dangote office in Oregun, Ikeja.

“They diverted the goods to another destination and ran away.

“They were later arrested and handed over to the police.”

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused may be jailed for three years, if found guilty of stealing, according to the provisions of Section 287.

The case was adjourned until November 21 for a mention.