Driver in court over missing crates of beer

A driver, Jude Okere, 42, was on Thursday docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing 26 crates of Orijin Beer worth N425,500.

Okere, who resides at No. 11, Ogunmuyiwa St., Sango-Ota, Ogun, is facing a charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the offence was committed on Oct. 7, at about 8.00p.m., at Cryslad Nigeria Ltd, located at Sakamori Camp, Agege, Lagos.

He said that the accused was a driver with Cryslad Nigeria and was asked to take the crates of Orijin to a customer in Abia State.

“Okere loaded from Guinness Nigeria Plc enroute Aba on Oct. 7, but did not return to Lagos until Dec. 3; a trip that was meant to take five days.

“It was later discovered that 26 crates of beer were missing and Okere could not account for them. He also refused to give reasons why the journey took him so long,” Ajebe said.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 stipulates a three-year sentence for offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Alexander Komolafe, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

He said that the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Komolafe adjourned the case till Feb. 10, 2016, for hearing.