EFCC Arraigns Four Dangote Workers for Stealing N15m Cement

The Suspects

Four members of staff of the Dangote Group were on Thursday arraigned before an Ogun State High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zone, for alleged N15m fraud.

The defendants, Adewale Dalmeida, Ibrahim Lawal, Afeez Olaniba and Lukman Adam, and one Afeez Olaniba were arraigned before Justice O. J. Bamgbose on two counts of conspiracy and stealing.

The complainant, Dangote Cement, alleged that Dalmeida, a Fleet Analyst; Lawal, chief driver; Adam, a Ghanaian driver and Olaniba, who is an agent of a contractor to the company, diverted nine trucks carrying 800 bags of cement each valued at over N15 million.

Tony Orilade, EFCC spokesman, in a statement, said the defendants were said to have diverted the trucks carrying the bags of cement, which were meant for the company’s customers in Togo, using fake identification cards and number plates.

Count one reads: “ That you, Adewale Dalmeida, Ibrahim Lawal, Afeez Olaniba and Lukman Adam, between May and August, 2018 at Ibese, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of the sum of N15, 940, 800.00 00, property of Dangote Cement Place”.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Idris Mohammed, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

The prosecution counsel also told the court that the defendants had not filed any application for bail before the court.

Consequently, counsels to the defendants prayed the court to move oral application for bail on behalf of their clients, arguing, “They have been in the EFCC custody since September.”

The defence counsels further urged the court to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.

However, the prosecution counsel opposed the prayers of the defense counsels to remand the defendants in EFCC custody.

Justice Bamgbose remanded the defendants in Ibara Prison custody, Abeokuta, Ogun State and adjourned till December 17, 2018 for hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial.