By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A 28-year-old Saheed Onifade and 28-year-old Tajudeen Akinremi, employees of Topef Computers and Telecoms Limited based in Lagos, were on Thursday docked by the police before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court Lagos, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing recharge cards worth N5.1 million.
The defendants whose residential addresses were not made known, and others still at large were alleged to have stolen Airtel recharge cards valued at N5.1 million belonging to the owner of the company, Mrs Fisayo Aruna.
According to the prosecutor, Assisstant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Nwosu, the defendants committed the alleged offences on March 22, at Topef Computers and Telecoms Ltd, Lagos.
“The accused were given Airtel recharge cards to sell but they converted the proceeds to their personal use,” Nwosu submitted.
The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendants denied the charge preferred against them by the police.
Their counsel , Mr O. O. Ojakova, prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
Ruling on the bail request, the presiding magistrate, Mr A. A. Adefulire admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties each in like sum.
He said the sureties must be civil servants or working in a reputable company and must show means of identification which must be voter’s card or international passport.
He also said the sureties must have not less than N300,000 in their accounts and have their addresses verified.
Thereafter, the presiding magistrate adjourned the case until August 8 for mention.