Boy Arrested For Alleged Stealing Of Master’s N.5m

The police in Lagos have arrested a sales representative for allegedly stealing his master’s N500,000 he was sent to lodge in a bank.

The incident occurred at No. 29, Zibar Plaza, Balogun Market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The police alleged that the victim, Rafiu Hassan, who lives at No. 14, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, had, on 27 January, 2011 sent his sales boy, identified as Azeez Mudashiru to lodge N500,000 into his Intercontinental Bank account  at the bank’s Trade Fair branch, but instead, the sales boy absconded with the money.

The complainant, P.M.NEWS learnt, after waiting for two days without setting eyes on the sales boy, reported the matter to the police.

The suspect was arrested at his residence not known to his boss situated on Gbogbo Road area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime.

In his confessional statement to the police, Azeez said: “Though my master had been sending me to the bank to lodge money for years, when I was taking the last money to the bank, I came across two boys who prophesied to me that they could double the money on me to N2 million. Since I did not know how they knew I was having money in my possession, I believed them and gave them the money.

“They took me to a junction and told me to sit down and wait for them to go and bring the money. That was how they abandoned me and disappeared  with the money. I think they hypnotised me. When I did not know what to tell my boss, I went to hide in my house which he did not know. It is the work of the devil,” said.

The police dismissed his claim as false, saying he used the money to furnish his house and bought new electronic gadgets.

Items recovered from his house include newly acquired electronic gadgets with the receipts and other precious valuables.

The suspect, according to the police,  has been arraigned before a court.

—Paul Iyoghojie