Three employees on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos charged with stealing building materials valued at N400,000.

The defendants – Idris Oluwalashe, 70, Afolabi Lawrence, 46, and James Oloruntola, 38 – are being tried for conspiracy and stealing.

The defendants committed the offenses on Aug. 24 at Lekki, Lagos State, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Emmanuel Ajayi told the court.

He said the defendants conspired to steal the materials belonging to Design Union Ltd.

“The defendants stole 100 bags of cement and four bags of nails.

“After investigation on the missing materials, it was discovered that the defendants were the culprits behind the theft.

“They were handed over to the police,” the prosecutor said.

The alleged offenses contravened sections 287(7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 287(7) prescribes seven years jail term for stealing from an employer while section 411 attracts two years for conspiracy.

Following their not guilty plea, Magistrate Mrs. A.O Odusanya released the defendants on bail of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

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Odusanya said the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

The magistrate fixed a further hearing for Jan. 25, 2022.