An Apapa Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday began the cross examination of two men, Abdulkareem Afeez and Solomon Oghenekaro for allegedly stealing 12 packets of toners at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters.
During the examination, Desmond Udoh, NPA security personnel narrated that on February 12, 2018 at about 5:45am while he was performing his duty. He saw the first defendant, Afeez with a sack of bag. He suspected him because of his movement in the NPA premises. He then conducted a search on him and found 12 new toners inside the sack.
According to him, the defendants were cleaners working for the subsidiary company of NPA. The supervisor of the cleaners testified that the first defendant had been caught stealing before. Udoh said the value of the toners was at N550,000.
Magistrate Alaka adjourned the case till September 18, 2018 for continuation of cross examination.
The port prosecutor, Alexander Esebamen told the court that the defendants committed the offences on February 12, 2018 at about 6am at NPA headquarters, Marina, Lagos.
Esebamen said the defendants stole eight pieces of Sharp toners, three pieces of HP toners and one Xerox computer toner property of NPA. According to him, the offence contravenes Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge brought against them.