Three ship chandlers, Michael Ameh (42), Vincent Ajonye (29) and Monday Samma (38), were on Friday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing chemical worth N15 million at the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Apapa.
Ameh, Ajonye and Samma are facing a two-count charge bothering on conspiracy and stealing.
The port prosecutor, Sergeant Adeniyi Balogun told the court that the defendants committed the offences on or before December 17, 2017 at about 11:55am at SIL Chemical Company premises, Tin Can Island Port.
“The defendants conspired together with others still at large to steal 23 metric tons of lab chemical valued at N15 million property of SIL Chemical International Limited of No 16a Raufu Taylor Close, Off Ideyo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos,” Balogun said.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 413(3) and 280(a)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against them.
The Magistrate, T.O Babalola granted the defendants bail in the sum of N250,000 with two responsible sureties each in like sum.
The sureties according to the Magistrate must provide proof of reasonable means of livelihood and tax payment to the Lagos State Government whose residential and official address must be verified by the court.
He adjourned the case till August 6, 2018 for mention.