9th July, 2018
Paul Iyoghojie
The management of Cozy World Hotels Ltd, Acme Road, Agindigbi, Ikeja area of Lagos has dragged three former managers of the hotel before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly damaging their properties valued at N45m, forgery of documents, stealing and threat to life.
The management of the Hotel also accused the former managers of allegedly converting their properties to their use and stealing the hotel’s receipts dated 27 and 30 November, 2016.
Police identified the accused persons as Onah John Ajiga, 37; Simon Achanya, 40 and Onah Evelyn Ocheke, 38.
The accused were charged before an Igbosere Magistrates Court, Lagos on an 11 count charges bordering on malicious damage, forgery, stealing and threat to life.
Police Counsel, Cyriacus Osuji informed the court in charge No P/2/2018 that the accused persons and others still at large committed the alleged offence between January and March 2016 while they were managing the Cozy World Hotels.
Osuji told the court that trouble started for the accused persons when the management and owners of Cozy World Hotel reported to the police that the accused persons forged documents bearing Global Reach Ltd and City View Hotels to apply for the management of Cozy World Hotels which they approved and allowed them to managed the Hotel, unknown to them that the documents were forged.
Osuji said that the complainant stated that when they later discovered after about three months that the accused persons forged the documents they presented to secure the approval to manage the Hotels, they terminated the agreement and directed the accused persons to hand over all the hotel properties in their possession.
He said that the complainant further stated that instead of the accused persons to hand over the hotel properties in their possession, they instead converted some of the properties to their use and damaged others valued at N45m.
Osuji said the properties the accused persons allegedly damaged include Air conditioners, Intercoms, doors, plumbing fittings, water heaters, furniture, soak-away, decking and DSTV cables all valued at N45m.
Properties the accused allegedly converted to their use, according the Police prosecutor included plasma television sets, air conditioners, gas cylinder, towels and kitchen utensils.
Osuji said the offences, the accused committed were punishable under sections 411, 370(a)(b), 365(1), 380(1), 320, 334(1)(a), 339 (1)(2) and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime in the open court and Magistrate B.I Bakare granted them bail in the sum of N5m each with two sureties each in like sum.
Bakare adjourned the case till 19 July, 2018 for trial.