A 42-year-old clearing agent, Ifeanyi Nnakaenyi, was on Monday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing the sum of N13,065,510 to clear various containers at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
Nnakaenyi is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, false pretence, stealing and presenting dud cheques.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olugbenga Salami, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on August 6, 2018 at about 10am at Tin Can Island.
“The defendant conspired together with others at large to obtain the sum of N13,065,510 under the pretence to clear various containers at Tin Can, Apapa Wharf knowing same to be false. He stole the said amount belonging to one Jimmy Eromosele Yusufu,” Salami said.
The prosecutor also said that the defendant on January 26, 2019 at about 11:30am at 3rd Avenue E Close, House 10, Festac Town, issued three FCMB cheque leaflets no 09590875 dated 28/02/2019, 09590876 dated 29/03/2019 and 09590877 dated 30/04/2019 in favour of one Jimmy Eromosele Yusufu for the sum of N2 million each. When presented for payment it was dishonoured on the ground that no funds or insufficient fund was standing on the credit of the drawer of the cheque in the bank on which the cheque was drawn.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 411, 314, 287 and 315(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The Investigative Police Officer said the dud cheques were recovered as exhibits.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
Magistrate M.O Kadiri granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each in like sum. The sureties are required to furnish the court with three years tax payment to Lagos State Government.
One of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendant and the other surety must be a Level 12 officer in a government parastatal.
He adjourned the case till May 27, 2019 for trial.
