By Albert Akpor
SIX staff of the Lagos High Court on Igbosere, Lagos have been arrested for allegedly breaking into the exhibit store of the high court and carted away goods worth millions of naira. The suspects, four males and two females, who sources said committed the offence last November, were arrested recently after investigations implicated them.

They were arraigned yesterday at the Yaba Magistrate Court on a five-count charge of conspiracy and stealing property of the high court worth millions of naira including three pieces of mercurial sphygmomanometer valued at N3,500.000,000.

The stolen goods were said to be kept in the store awaiting court orders to be sold on auction.

Some of the charges read in part: “That you Bolanle Bolariwa ‘m’, Moronfolu Babade ‘m’, Raji Mufutau ‘m’ Rasaki Disu ‘m’, Rasidat Ishola, Mrs Christaina Kalejaiye and others at large on or about the 20th day of November 2008 at Lagos High Court Igbosere, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial district, being an employee of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos did break and enter the exhibit store of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos where goods attached pursuant to court orders are kept pending sale by auction and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 413 (2) of the criminal code cap 17, vol. 2 laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail.  Further hearing has been adjourned to June 16, 2009.