Two employees were on Monday arraigned in Lagos over the alleged theft of three truck-loads of?the company's products, Gino tin tomatoes and Bama Mayonnaise,?valued at N31 million.
Akeem Akinbola (31), of No. 61c, Bale Aiyetoro St., Ajegunle and Yusuf Shobowale (29),?of No. 7, Sherifatu Close, Shasha, Lagos, are facing ?two-counts of conspiracy and stealing before an Oshodi Magistrates' Court.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused, with others now at large, committed the offence sometime in August, at No.16 Industrial Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos.
Olatunde said that both workers, who were the company's Logistic Officers, loaded the three trucks with products meant to be delivered by the drivers at Abuja, Kano and Ibadan, respectively.
“Till now, nothing has been heard of the drivers and the trucks, and the products are yet to be delivered at their destinations.
?“All efforts to find the drivers, their trucks and the products have proved abortive,’’ he said.
The prosecutor said that the company explained that the accused allegedly introduced and engaged one Alhaji Kareem as one of their `sub transporters’.
He said that Kareem was the Transport Manager of ODAMCO Nigeria Ltd., owners of?the trucks and employers of their drivers.
“It was later discovered that the transport company was not registered and that the registration numbers on the trucks?were faked,” Olatunde told the court.
The prosecutor said that the residential address of the said Alhaji at Road 11, Flat 12, Lekki, Ajah, was traced by detectives who were informed that he had moved out of the house since the day of the incident.
Olatunde said that the offence contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olagbegi Adelabu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
She adjourned the case till Oct 25, for further hearing. (NAN).