A guard attached to a fish farm, Samson Julius, on Tuesday appeared before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing bags of fish feed valued at N540,000.

Julius, 34, is standing trial on a count of theft, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, informed the court that on August 2, the complainant, Jonathan Francis, reported the case to the police.

Mr Leo alleged that Julius, a security guard at Francis’ fish farm, stole fish feed worth N540,000 on multiple occasions and sold it.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant was arrest during the investigation, but efforts to recover the stolen items were unsuccessful.

He added that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 217 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017, and urged the court to set a date for the commencement of trial.

Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must have a reasonable means of livelihood and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

The magistrate also ordered that the surety should provide evidence of three years tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.

Mr Emmanuel adjourned the case until September 10 for hearing.

(NAN)