Cook jailed 4 years for stealing N.2m from ex-employer

By Paul Iyoghojie

A 26-year old cook has been sentenced to four years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing the sum of N231,000 from The Place Restaurant, located at Lekki Phase I, Lagos State.

He was arrested with a knife at the restaurant by employees and later charged to court.

The accused, Fred Sunday from Akwa Ibom State, was sentenced by Magistrate K.K. Awoyinka of Igbosere Magistrate’s Court after he pleaded guilty to the three-count charge of stealing, escaping from lawful custody, unlawful damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace preferred against him by the Police.

The journey to jail started for the accused when he stormed his former place of work, “The Place Restaurant” located at Lekki phase I, Lekki, Lagos, armed with a knife on 2 April, 2019 to harass workers. He also forced the safe in the restaurant open and stole N231,000.

The prosecutor, Reuben Solomon, told the court that the workers at the restaurant overpowered the accused and invited the police.

He disclosed further that the accused on 23 April, 2019 escaped from lawful custody at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos when he was arraigned for stealing.

He was eventually apprehended at Obalende, Lagos.

Solomon further told the court that the convict was a former staff of The Place Restaurant, adding that he was sacked for wrongdoing.

Solomon said that the offences committed were punishable under sections 287, 350 and 168(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Following his guilty plea, Magistrate Awoyinka sentenced the accused to four years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.