Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
A businessman on Tuesday slumped in court just before the trial judge, Justice Morenike of Ikeja High Court sentenced him to 44 years imprisonment for stealing 14,400 bags of sugar valued at N22.2 million belonging to Dangote Company Limited.
A businessman on Tuesday slumped in court just before the trial judge, Justice Morenike of Ikeja High Court sentenced him to 44 years imprisonment for stealing 14,400 bags of sugar valued at N22.2 million belonging to Dangote Company Limited.
The convict, Nurudeen Olusesi was charged along with his company, D.N. Olusesi Commercial and Industrial Company for conspiracy and stealing. The offence, according to the charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was committed in 2003.
The convict was later rushed to the General Hospital Ikeja where he regained consciousness and mental alertness.
There was a mild drama as the prison officials in court rejected to take him in custody because of his ill-health, describing his situation as burdensome which might be difficult for them to handle.
According to the EFCC, Olusesi, a haulage contractor with Dangote, fraudulently converted the 14,400 bags of sugar belonging to Dangote in transit from the Lagos factory to its warehouses in Kano and Jos.
'In the circumstances of this case, I sentence the first accused person to a term of imprisonment of two years for each count.
'The sentence to run concurrently, take effect from today. I make an order of restitution under section 270 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Lagos State that the first accused (Olusesi) refund to the victim company,s Dangote Nigeria Limited, the value of the bags of sugar in the 23 trucks established by evidence to have been criminally converted," the court held.
Earlier, the trial judge had withdrawn into her chamber directing the court officials to make arrangements on how he would be taken care of.
The convict's family, inspite of his conviction took care of medication while the EFCC operatives are in charge of his security at the hospital.