Court Remands 6 Men Over Alleged Stealing 9 Containers With N900m Cosmetics

A Lagos Federal High Court, Monday, ordered the remand of six men, over alleged conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen cosmetics valued N900 million, kept in nine containers.

The six men ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) by the court presided by Justice Abimbola Awogboro were: Akinmade Oluwaseyi, Michael Okwu; Emmanuel Igbru; Michael Peter; Bright Ogungbeje and Kingsley Onobrakpeya.

The court remand order against six men was sequel to their not guilty plea made to the charges preferred against them by the men of the Nigeria Police, Tincan Island Command, Apapa, Lagos.

Justice Awogboro ordered that the six men be remanded till October 24, when their bail applications would be ruled on.

The six defendants, according to the prosecutor Mr. A. J. Dagbo, had alleged that the defendants and others now at large, have between June 19 and 21, 2022, at Tincan Island Container Terminal, Nigerian Ports Authority, Tincan Island Port Apapa Lagos, conspired among themselves and stole nine containers housing the cosmetics, such as: body cream, Vaseline, face soap and other valuable items.

The numbers of the containers allegedly stolen were: PCIU 9414193;  TGHU 6559890; ZIMU 1064478; MRKU 3041141; CMAU 1898178; CBHU 8192730; IENU 4289564; CMAU 7416252 and GLDU 7236560,

 The prosecutor particularly accused the duo of Bright Ogungbeje and Kingsley Onobrakpeya, to have on June 22, 2022, receiving the nine stolen containers housing the cosmetics from Michael Peter, and used MV Aquilla Tug boat to conveyed them to an unknown destination.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened sections 516, 390 (4)(c) and 427 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004 and punishable under the same Act.

The defendants denied the allegations and they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the defendants not guilty plea, both the prosecutor and counsel to the defendants, who includes: Precious Toju S.; Adewo Roja; Ife Akinola and Kingsley Ezeogu, moved and argued their various bail applications and counters to the applications.

Upon taken arguments from the counsel and prosecutor, Justice Awogboro ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the NCoS’custody till October 24, for ruling on the bail applications.

The judge also adjourned till November 21; 22 and 23 for defendants’ trial.