Six men accused of conspiracy and diesel theft were granted bail today by a Yaba Chief Magistrate Court after they unequivocally pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.
The defendants, Olugbode Abayomi, Ahmad Abdullahi, Yahaya Musa, Abdullahi Muhammadu, Ibrahim Halihu, and Adamu Muhammed, were arraigned before Magistrate E. Kubeinje on serious allegations of stealing and diverting 145 liters of Automated Gas Oil (diesel) valued at N142 million naira.
Barrister Morufu Animashaun, representing the legal department of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex in Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, asserted that these offenses took place on January 26 and 27, 2025, at Dangote Refineries in Ibeju Lekki.
The diesel in question is clearly owned by Mr. Bolaji Animashaun.
The prosecution emphasized that the alleged actions violate Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State and are punishable under Section 287(5) of the same law.
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Following the defendants’ not guilty pleas, their lawyer, I. K. Abdulsalam, promptly moved to apply for bail, insisting that the court should impose reasonable conditions.
In a ruling, Magistrate Kubeinje set bail at N10 million for each defendant, mandating that they provide two responsible sureties residing within the court’s jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the sureties must submit evidence of three years of tax payments and demonstrate a stable livelihood.
Until these bail conditions are met, the defendants will remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
The case has been firmly adjourned until April 23 for further mention.
