Police arraign sales clerks for alleged N33.7m theft

Four sales clerks were on Wednesday arraigned before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Igbosere for allegedly stealing N33, 724,500 belonging to their employer, Mr Emmanuel Ugo.

The defendants – Augustine Achakuba, 26; Nwohidi Chineye Lawson, 29; Amenchi Oluchukwu, 34; and Eze Arinze, 31 – were arraigned on four counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing and unlawful conversion.

They, however, pleaded not guilty.

But the prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun of the General Investigation Department, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, told the court that the defendants and others now at large, on November 9, 2018, conspired among themselves to steal the sum of N724,500,000; N26m and N7m, totalling N33, 724, 500, belonging to their employer.

The prosecutor said the funds were proceeds of the goods sold by the defendants for their employer.

He alleged that the defendants fraudulently converted the said money to their personal use.

According to Animashaun, the defendants acted contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Laws  of Lagos State 2015 and were liable to be punished under Section 287(7) of the same Act.

Following the defendants’ plea for bail, the presiding chief magistrate, Mrs Oshin, admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000 each two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate said the sureties must be residents of Lagos State, gainfully employed and must be able to furnish the court with their means of livelihood, three years tax clearance, adding that each of the sureties must have the sum of N500,000 standing as balance in their bank accounts.

While adjourning the matter till February 15, for mention, the magistrate ordered that the defendants should be remanded in the prison custody pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

(PUNCH)