4 employees in court for allegedly stealing N8.9m sales proceeds
NAN-H-15
Stealing
By Vivian Ibobo
Lagos, June 15, 2017 (NAN) Four workers at Cottex Shopping Complex, were on Thursday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for the alleged theft of N8.9 million sales proceeds from gate passes.
The accused are: Amarach Okafor, 25; Adama Uzoma, 27; Chizoba Chinemerum, 29, and Sunday Nwabunike, 39, whose addresses were not provided.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge bordering on stealing, breach of peace and conspiracy.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Ajayi Emmanuel, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on May15, at Cottex Shopping Complex, located at Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos.
Emmanuel said that the money belonged to one Mr Peter Eze, the employer of the accused.
He said that the accused who worked for the complainant, conspired and collected N 8.9 million being proceeds of sales from gate passes at the complex but failed to remit the money and rather converted it to their personal use.
“When the complainant confronted them about the missing money, they denied stealing the money.
“The complainant reported the case to the police and the accused were arrested,’’ Emmanuel said.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 285,166 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for anyone convicted of stealing, while Section 409 stipulates two years for conspiracy.
The Magistrate, Mr E.A. Azeez, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1million, with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate adjourned the case until June 22, for mention. (NAN)
IZU/LAB/PIO
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(Edited by Lydia Beshel/Idonije Obakhedo)