8th January, 2016
Cyriacus Izuekwe
A 22-year old man, Ifeanyi Ogbodo, has been arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing his master’s N3.5m goods in Lagos State, Western Nigeria.
Enugu State-born Ogbodo was brought to Lagos as a shop apprentice by his master, Frank Uzondu, who opened a fabrics store for him at Ladipo street in Mushin.
P.M.NEWS gathered that part of the agreement was that Ogbodo will serve Uzondu for a number of years thereafter his boss will give him some money to start his own business.
When Ogbodo was brought to Lagos last year, he was entrusted with a shop packed with fabrics to manage.
Ogbodo allegedly started selling the fabrics piecemeal and hid the money elsewhere without the knowledge of Uzondu.
The alleged theft was discovered when Uzondu went to the store to check the stocks of goods.
He discovered that most of the items had been sold and were not accounted for by Ogbodo.
When asked for an explanation, he did not give satisfactory answers nor produce the money from the sales.
Ogbodo was then handed over to the police at Olosun division.
At the station, he reportedly admitted that he sold the missing items and spent the money without the knowledge of his master.
He was charged to court with stealing under the Criminal Code.
When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Shonubi granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 13 January, 2016.