Businessman arraigned for alleged attempt to steal substandard goods

FOR allegedly attempting to break into a warehouse and steal substandard goods seized by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), a businessman, Ogbo Chidozie Tochukwu, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The suspect was arraigned alongside his company, Majestics Tiles Limited before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful entry and attempted stealing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail, alongside his company in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge then ordered that one of the sureties must be a public servant of not below grade level 13 to be verified by the deputy chief registrar of the court. Justice Aikawa further ordered that the other surety must be a resident of Lagos State with the document of the landed property handed over to the court and with reliable and identifiable means of livelihood. He therefore ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison pending perfection of bail conditions. The judge also ordered that he reports to SON’S office every last Friday of the month pending the determination of the case. The case was consequently adjourned till December 10 for continuation of trial. The prosecution counsel, Amaka Allen-ngbale, had alleged that Tochukwu conspired to commit the offences with Ochuehi Ikechukwu, Monday Adumekwe and George Anderson (now at large) on January. 30. They were alleged to have broken into the Majestic Tiles Limited warehouse and attempted to steal 115 cartons of soldering iron, cartons of CCTV camera and some quantities of 35g of Lead by loading the said products suspected to be sub-standard goods seized by SON for non-compliance with the mandatory industrial standard before importation. The prosecution said their offences contravened sections 383(2)(b), 410 and 508 of the Criminal Code Act C39 LFN 2004 .