6th March, 2012
The police in Lagos have arraigned a 67-year old man and his son before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of felony, stealing and receiving stolen money.
P.M.NEWS learnt that Ogar Joseph Olem allegedly received the money his son, Dennis Joseph Ogar, allegedly stole from his employer, Alhaja Sarat Olanrewaju. Dennis, a domestic servant, allegedly stole his employer’s N3.5 million on 14 February, 2012 and escaped from Alhaja Olanrewaju’s home at 2, Moss Street, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo, Lagos to his village in Cross River state.
Detectives with the assistance of Dennis’ guarantor travelled to Ogoja in Cross River State, Southsouth Nigeria, and tracked him down. The police also arrested his father who was keeping the stolen money for his son. Both father and son were then moved to Lagos.
According to police sources, Dennis confessed to committing the offence during interrogation.
“My guarantor advised me before I secured the job that any time I set my eyes on my madam’s huge sum of money, I should steal it. When I stole the money, I informed him and he took me with the money to my village, to keep it with my father,” police at Zone 2, Command, Onikan Lagos quoted Dennis as saying.
Police sources claimed that his father also admitted he received the stolen money from Dennis when he returned to the village with it.
But when the charge was read to them, father and son pleaded not guilty. The trial Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Potoku admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000. But they could not meet the bail condition until the court rose.
They were ordered to be remanded in prison custody. The court adjourned the matter till 19 March, 2012 for mention.
Similarly, another Igbosere Magistrate’s Court has remanded the managing director of Hensmor Bureau de change in Lagos, Mr. Martins Emeson, 46 and his assistant, Prince David Omorodion, 69, for alleged fraud. The police prosecutor alleged in charge suit number N/8/2012 that the accused persons were arrested following a written complaint by the shareholders of Hensmor Bureau de Change that the accused persons stole their $50,000.
They claimed that Mr. Martins Emeson, being the managing director of the company and his assistant, Prince David Omorodion, used their positions to transact unauthorised forex exchange business at the Central Bank of Nigeria to the tune of $50,000 without following the rules and regulations of the company.
The rules stipulate that before any personnel of the company could transact any forex exchange business with any financial institution, three signatures of senior officers of the company must be presented to the financial institution for verification, confirmation and approved by the signatories. But the accused persons, according to the complainants, violated the rules, obtained the sum of $50,000 and allegedly converted it to their own personal use.
Prince David Omorodion, however, allegedly told the police that he did not participate in the transaction and knew nothing about it. They were charged to court for stealing. The offences, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Nkem Uko, is contrary to Sections 409 and 285(1) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
Part of the charge reads: “that you, Martins Emeson and Prince David Omorodion, on 13 July, 2010 at 21, Adenola Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, being employees of Hensmor Bureau de Change, did steal the sum of $50,000, property of your employer.” The accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Ogunbowale admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government and residing in the magisterial district.
She adjourned the matter till 15 March, 2012 for mention.
The accused persons were remanded in Ikoyi Prison when they could not fulfil the bail conditions in good time.
—Paul Iyoghojie