Site engineer bolts with employer’s building materials

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday granted a N100,000 bail to a 38-year-old site engineer, Makinde Ayodele, for allegedly stealing building materials worth N105,000.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr O.A. Komolafe, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum.

Ayodele, who resides at 2, Onifade St., Pipeline, Oko-Oba, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 3, 2014 at 5, Onikoyi Savage St., Fagba in Iju area of Lagos.

He said the accused with another still at large conspired to steal 100 pieces of roofing sheets worth N105,000 property of Mr Sampson Kalu.

“The accused, who works as a site engineer for Kalu, was asked by the complainant to accompany him to purchase roofing sheets. “

After purchasing 700 pieces of roofing sheets, Kalu asked Ayodele to follow the truck driver conveying the goods to guide him to the site.

“It was on their way to the site that the accused and the driver conspired to steal 100 pieces out of the roofing sheets which they later sold,” Ajebe said.

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sections 285 prescribes a three-year jail term, while Section 409 provides two years.

The case was adjourned till Nov. 15 for trial.