A security guard, John Malam, has been arrested by the police for allegedly conniving with his partner and others at large to burgle his boss’ warehouse on Alexander Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The suspected burglars reportedly stole 61 air conditioners valued at N15m from the warehouse.
They were said to have sold each of the ACs for N25,000.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Malam, who hails from Borno State, had approached one of the fleeing suspects, identified only as Andrew that he wanted to travel, but did not have money.
He was said to have discussed with Andrew to assist him to get a buyer for his motorcycle to raise funds for the journey.
Andrew reportedly discouraged him against selling the motorcycle and advised that they should steal the boss’ property instead.
Our correspondent learnt that Malam also acquainted the other guard with the crime to which he allegedly consented.
It was learnt that on January 17, around 1.30am, the suspects broke into the store and removed 61 ACs. They were said to have shared the proceeds of the theft.
But on January 30, luck ran out on Malam, who had fled the warehouse after the crime was committed, as he was arrested by policemen from the Ikoyi division in the Lekki area.
While he was being taken to the station, he reportedly escaped with handcuffs near a market around Lekki.
He was later rearrested and arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on six counts of burglary and unlawful escape from police custody.
A police prosecutor, Sergeant Cyracus Osuji, told the court that the offences contravened sections 409, 285, 305, 106 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The charges read in part, “That you, John Malam, and others now at large, on January 17, 2016, at about 1am on Alexander Road, Ikoyi, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully break into JMB Nigeria Limited warehouse and stole 61 air conditioners valued at N15m.
“That you, John Malam, on January 30, 2016, at about 12am, at Lekki New Market, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did escape from lawful custody with handcuffs in your hands, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 106 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully and maliciously damage police handcuffs by breaking them with stone.”
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts.
The presiding magistrate, A.T. Omoyele, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum. The magistrate added that the sureties must show evidence of tax payments as part of conditions to perfect the defendant’s bail.
The case was adjourned till February 24, 2016.
-punchng