A 36-year-old security guard, Hassan Idris, on Thursday appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly conspiring to steal property worth N14. 4 million from his employer.

The defendant, whose house address was not given is being tried on a three-count charge of conspiracy, breaking and entering and theft.

The Police prosecutor, Insp Courage Ekhueorohan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 23 at No 45, Agboyin Avenue, Aguda Surulere, Lagos.

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Ekhueorohan told the court that the defendant allegedly conspired with some others still at large by deliberately abandoning his security post.

He alleged that while the defendant abandoned his duty post, his accomplices broke into the main building and stole cell phones, wristwatches, gold bracelets, two international passports and cash.

The prosecutor told the court that the worth of the stolen items, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oyinloa Thomas, was N14. 4 million.

The offences, he said, were punishable under Sections 287, 308, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

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The Magistrate, Mrs Sadiq Bello, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties in like sum.

She said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation who must show evidence of tax payment to the court’s registrar.

Bello adjourned the case until April 21, for substantive trial (NAN)