Court grants accused N500, 000 bail over theft of 694 cartons of beer bottles

An Abule-Egba Magistrates’ Court on Thursday in Lagos granted an accused a N500, 000 bail for allegedly stealing 694 cartons of beer bottles.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adenike Shonubi, ordered that the accused, 53-year-old Ajibola Tokunbo should produce two sureties in like sum as part of his bail condition.

The accused, the driver of the bus transporting the empty bottles, was docked for stealing, conspiracy and causing a breach of peace.

Tokunbo, who lives at No. 2, Taiwo Kehinde Close, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Racheal Williams, told the court that the offences were committed on March 18.

She said the accused stole the bottles, property of Guinness Nigeria Plc.

“The accused was sent to deliver some cartons of empty bottles of beer to some customers and to also collect same number of cartons in exchange from customers.

“Instead of off-loading the empty bottles at the company, he diverted them to Iponri area of Lagos to sell them,” she said.

Williams said the value of the stolen bottles was N763, 850.

The offences, according to her, violate Sections 166 (d), 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The court adjourned the case to May 18 for mention.