The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) in Alagbon-Ikoyi, under the Lagos state police command, has arraigned three staff of Starlink Global Ideal Limited, before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate's Court, for allegedly Stealing cocoa beans worth N80 million, belonging to the company.

The three defendants are Yomi Abodunde, Mutiu Yusuf, and Saheed Hassan.

The police in a charge marked A/27/2018, alleged that the three defendants, and others now at large, who works in the haulage department of the company, had sometimes in the month of June 2017, and February 2018, conspired among themselves to steal cocoa beans valued at N80 million.

The police alleged that the defendants had diverted the farm produce to another place differ from where they were told to supply them.

The offences according to the prosecutor, are contrary to and punishable under sections 411 and 285(5) of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2015.

The three defendants denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to the charges levied against them.

Upon their plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu A. Animashaun, urged the court to remand the three defendants in prisons custody, pending the conclusion of the matter.

But the lawyer for the defendants, M. G. Lawani, pleaded with the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

Lawani told the court that his clients are first-time offenders and that the charges brought against them are bailable ones, adding that bail is a constitutional right of the defendants.

He, therefore, urged the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

Opposing the bail applications, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, told the court to discountenance the submission of the defendants' lawyer, on this ground that it took the police several months before they could be apprehended, adding that if the defendants were granted bail, they may influence and interfere with the witnesses, as well, made it impossible for the others that are still at large to be apprehended.

But, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O. O. Oshin, after listened to the submissions of both parties, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N250,000.00, with two sureties each in the same sum.

The magistrate also ordered each of the sureties, to file before the court evidence of three years tax receipts, paid to the Lagos state government, means of livelihood, and both their residential and employers' addresses.

The magistrate while adjourning the matter till April 26, for the commencement of trial, ordered that the three defendants be remanded in prisons custody pending the perfection of the bail terms.