An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a 27-year-old security guard, Godwin Edika, to two years and eight months’ imprisonment for conspiring to steal his employer’s goods worth N15 million.
Edika was arraigned on Oct. 10, 2018, alongside his colleague, 20-year-old Clement Lawson, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The duo pleaded not guilty. However, on April 10, the first defendant, Edika, changed his plea to guilty.
Consequently, the Magistrate, Mrs K. S. Abdulsalam, convicted the security guard based on his plea and the facts of the case.
She sentenced Edika to one-year imprisonment on count one (conspiracy) and one year and eight months’ jail term on count two (stealing).
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Abdulsalam, however, said that the sentences would run concurrently, adding that they should take effect from the date of the guard’s arraignment.
The magistrate adjourned the case until May 16 for the continuation of the trial of the second defendant.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Philips Osijale told the court that Edika and Lawson conspired and committed the stealing on Sept. 3, 2017, on Adewale Adegbosin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State.
Osijale said that Edika stole a power generating set worth N250, 000, four inverter batteries with charger worth N3.5 million, four Panasonic split air-conditioner units worth N800, 000, four HP laptops worth N1 million and 20, 000 US dollars.
He said other items stolen by them included, 42 inch Panasonic television worth N200, 000, Panasonic camera worth N250,000, two Apple brand Ipads worth N400, 000 and four imported towels worth N20, 000.
According to Osijale, the total value of all the items is N15 million.
He said that the property belonged to Builders Home Stores Ltd.
He said that the defendants were security guards at the Builders Homes Stores Company but instead of guarding his employer’s goods, he stole them.
“Some of the items were recovered from the defendants,” Osijale added.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 287 (7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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