Lagos, August 12, 2024 – Two truck drivers, Azeez Hassan and Musa Mohammed, have been granted bail after being arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate Court for allegedly diverting and stealing a total of 28,000 tons of cashew nuts worth 28 million naira.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Olatunde Kehinde, the defendants were charged with conspiracy, diversion, and theft. The prosecutor stated that the alleged incidents occurred at different times earlier this year.
On April 15, 2024, Hassan was accused of diverting a container carrying 28,000 tons of cashew nuts and stealing 6,340 kilograms, valued at 28.2 million naira. The prosecutor claimed that Hassan fraudulently converted the stolen cashew nuts for his personal use.
Similarly, on March 18, 2024, Mohammed was alleged to have fraudulently diverted a container carrying 28,000 tons of cashew nuts and stolen 5,700 tons, valued at 28 million naira. The stolen goods reportedly belonged to a company called Sunbeth Global Concept.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, which contravene Sections 411, 328, and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Opeyemi Ekundayo, granted the truck drivers bail in the sum of 1 million naira each, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government, and their addresses must be verified.
The case has been adjourned to September 18, 2024, for further mention.
