Two truck drivers, Azeez Hassan and Musa Mohammed, were released on bail of one million naira each after being arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court on charges of embezzling 28,000 tonnes of cashew nuts valued at 28 million naira.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Hassan, 41, and Mohammed, 36, were arraigned before the Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Police are bringing three charges against the truck drivers, whose addresses were not provided, bordering on conspiracy to commit embezzlement and theft.

Police prosecutor Inspector Olatunde Kehinde told the court that the accused had conspired with other persons, who are now at large, to commit the offences they were accused of.

Kehinde told the court that the two committed the crimes at different times.

He said that on April 15, 2024, Hassan diverted a container containing 28,000 tonnes of cashew nuts and stole 6,340kg of it valued at N28,215,000.

The prosecutor alleged that Hassan fraudulently processed the 6,340 kg of cashew nuts for his own use.

Kehinde further told the court that the second defendant, Mohammed, fraudulently diverted a container of 28,000 tonnes of cashew nuts on March 18, 2024 and stole 5,700 tonnes valued at 28 million naira.

He said the goods stolen by the defendants belonged to Sunbeth Global Concept company.

According to him, the offences committed contravened sections 411, 328 and 287 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Opeyemi Ekundayo, subsequently granted them bail of 1 million Naira each and granted them two sureties of the same amount.

She said the guarantors would have to provide proof of payment of taxes to Lagos State and have their addresses verified.

The case was adjourned for further mention until 18 September 2024.