Three security guards employed by the Lagos Fencing Club have been arrested and charged for allegedly stealing aluminum fencing materials valued at a staggering N61 million. The guards, identified as Bullum Ayim (38), Gabriel Edet (31), and Samuel Nkanu (33), who were entrusted with the responsibility of securing the property, allegedly turned against their employer by orchestrating the theft of the high-value materials.
According to reports, the suspects concocted a false story, claiming that the aluminum materials had been stolen by external thieves who broke into the premises. However, the employer, growing suspicious of the narrative, conducted a thorough review of the incident and discovered that the guards themselves were involved in the crime. Upon uncovering this betrayal, the employer promptly reported the matter to the Maroko Division Police in Lekki, Lagos.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Maroko Division immediately launched an investigation and ordered the arrest of the three guards. The suspects were taken into custody and subsequently charged at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, located at the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court complex, Lagos Island. They are facing two serious charges: conspiracy and stealing, both of which are violations of sections 287 and 410 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The court heard that the alleged theft took place between the 1st and 28th of August 2024, at 6, Olunda Adedoyin Ogungbe Street in the Lekki area. Prosecuting counsel, Inspector Ejima Okete, highlighted that the suspects had grossly violated the trust placed in them as security guards by their employer, who expected them to protect, not steal, the valuable materials.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the three accused men pleaded not guilty in court. Magistrate B.A. Sonuga, who presided over the case, granted bail to the defendants, setting stringent conditions that required each to provide two sureties in like sum. However, until they are able to meet the bail conditions, the defendants have been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility.
The case has been adjourned until October 8, 2024, for further mention, giving the defendants time to either meet their bail requirements or remain in custody until the next hearing. The theft, which involved a significant amount of property, has highlighted the importance of vetting and managing security personnel, particularly those entrusted with the protection of high-value assets.
