The police have arraigned a warehouse manager, Akokhia Joseph, before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing beverages estimated at N2.2m, belonging to his employer, one Vivian Osian.
It was learnt that Akokhia was to give the goods out based on orders from the management of the company.
He allegedly diverted some of the goods, replacing them in the warehouse with empty cartons.
He was said to have also allegedly deleted stock data from the computers to cover up the crime.
It was learnt that several times, goods had been discovered missing in the warehouse, but Akokhia usually returned the monetary value of the goods, claiming that he later found and sold them.
Our correspondent learnt that after his employer noticed some inconsistencies in the computer data and the missing warehouse goods, an auditor was invited to analyse the records, leading to the discovery of the theft.
The 24-year-old was arraigned on Monday on one count of stealing.
The police told the court that Joseph stole from the warehouse between September 1, 2014 and January 12, 2015.
The charge read, “That you, Akokhia Joseph, between September 1, 2014, and January 12, 2015, at Ojuelegba Road, Surulere, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal Nestle products valued at N2,264,597, property of one Vivian Osian, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011”
The defendant pleaded not guilty, while his defence counsel, Saka Bello, applied for his bail in liberal terms.
The Magistrate, O. A. Komolafe, admitted him to bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
He said, “Both sureties must have the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency ID card. One of the sureties must be a relative, while the other must be a level 10 civil servant working with the Lagos State Government.”
The case was adjourned till July 27.
Punch