Two truck drivers, Azeez Hassan and Musa Mohammed, have been granted N1m bail each after their arraignment before a Lagos State Magistrate Court for allegedly diverting 28,000 tons of cashew nuts worth N28m.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Hassan, 41, and Mohammed, 36, were, on Friday, arraigned before the Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court.
The truck drivers whose addresses were not given are facing three counts bordering on conspiracy diversion and stealing preferred against them by the police.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Olatunde Kehinde, told the court that the defendants conspired with others who are now at large to commit the alleged offences.
Kehinde told the court that the duo committed the offences at different times.
He said that Hassan, on April 15, 2024, diverted a container carrying 28,000 tons of cashew nuts and stole 6,340kg, valued at N28,215,000, from the 28,000 tons.
The prosecutor said Hassan fraudulently converted the 6,340kg of cashew nuts for his personal use.
Kehinde also told the court that the second defendant, Mohammed, on March 18, 2024, fraudulently diverted a container carrying 28,000 tons of cashew nuts and stole 5,700 tons valued at N28m.
He said the goods that were stolen by the defendants belong to a company, Sunbeth Global Concept.
According to him, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 328 and 287, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Opeyemi Ekundayo, granted them bail in the sum of N1m each, with two sureties each in like sum.
She said that the sureties must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State, and have their addresses verified.
The case was adjourned till September 18, 2024, for mention.
