Zenith Carex CEO accused of sending employee who demanded unpaid salaries to prison

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Carex International Limited, Adelana Olamilekan, has been accused of orchestrating the arrest and imprisonment of a former employee, Samson Adetunji, who had persistently demanded payment of two months of unpaid salaries.

Background

Adetunji, a Transport and Logistics graduate of Lagos State University, was employed by Zenith Carex International Limited in July 2025 as an Operations Officer and assigned a company vehicle to supervise dispatch riders — a role that aligned with his academic background and which he accepted enthusiastically.

However, sources familiar with the matter told our correspondent that the company failed to pay workers’ salaries consistently. By October 2025, several employees had stopped reporting to work due to unpaid wages. Adetunji, who was owed his August and September salaries, made repeated complaints via the company’s WhatsApp group, which included all staff, the HR department, and the CEO.

Rather than addressing the salary concerns, Olamilekan allegedly sent Adetunji a private message warning him against raising the issue publicly, claiming it could influence other employees.

With no income to fund his daily commute, Adetunji informed the company he could no longer afford transportation and stayed off duty, retaining the company vehicle as leverage for his outstanding salary. He also communicated via email that he had not resigned but simply could not continue reporting to work without pay, citing the death of his father and the financial pressures that followed. His messages were ignored.

Termination and Escalation

On October 16, 2025, instead of receiving his salary, Adetunji was issued a termination letter via email and instructed to return the company vehicle. He responded that he would surrender the car once his outstanding salary was settled. The company did not reply.

One of his guarantors, a journalist, subsequently contacted Olamilekan directly, explaining the situation and assuring him that the vehicle would be returned upon payment. The CEO reportedly threatened legal action for theft. The guarantor maintained that such action would be unnecessary if the salary was paid. That conversation yielded no resolution.

Arrest and First Bail

In January 2026, operatives from the Zone 2 Police Command arrived unannounced at Adetunji’s residence, arrested him on allegations of theft, and impounded the company vehicle. He was taken to Zone 2 Command, where his guarantors intervened and he was granted bail. The vehicle was left in police custody, with an understanding that Adetunji would be notified before it was released to the company.

The company, however, later collected the vehicle without informing him. Despite this, Adetunji continued to receive invitations to the station whenever the CEO was available. The situation further escalated when Olamilekan accused Adetunji of damaging the vehicle and demanded N5 million for repairs.

Court Arraignment and Remand

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Adetunji was invited back to Zone 2 Command under the impression that his former employer was willing to resolve the dispute amicably. He was instructed to come with his surety. His guarantor, however, was unable to accompany him due to an urgent assignment at his workplace and asked Adetunji to keep him updated.

Upon arrival at the station, Adetunji was not met with a settlement. Instead, he was served court papers and subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court in Yaba on two counts.

Count one of charge No. M/2026 read: *”That you Samson Adetunji ‘M’ sometime in the month of September 2025, at Awolowo Road Ikoyi Lagos… did unlawfully seize, tamper with one Renault Logan Sedan Salon Car with Reg No RSH 05 XF property of Zenith Carex International Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 340 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”*

Count two alleged that Adetunji *”unlawfully and intentionally converted to your own personal use”* the same vehicle, valued at N10 million, contrary to sections 280 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Bail was set at N1 million. However, by the time bail processing commenced, it was already 4 p.m. — with public holidays and a weekend immediately following. Adetunji was remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, where he remained as of the time of this report.

His guarantor, who rushed to court upon receiving the news, alleged that the timing of the arraignment appeared deliberate. “I could not help but feel resentment toward the CEO, who appeared to have deliberately timed the lawsuit to coincide with the holidays,” he said.

At the court, the guarantor encountered Olamilekan for the first time. When he identified himself as Adetunji’s surety and questioned the CEO’s decision, Olamilekan allegedly threatened to have him arrested and detained.

Bail Process and Court Frustrations

The guarantor, alongside Adetunji’s elder brother and roommates, worked to perfect the bail conditions over the following days. Their efforts were met with significant resistance from court administrators, who were accused of demanding unofficial payments to fast-track the process.

The guarantor noted that once court officials identified him as a journalist, they avoided direct engagement with him and instead directed dealings toward Adetunji’s relatives. The magistrate was also absent on both Monday and Tuesday when the sureties appeared, reportedly indisposed on one occasion.

After approximately ten days in detention, Adetunji was finally released following the magistrate’s review of the bail conditions on Wednesday, March 26.

Pattern of Non-Payment

Following the publication of the court charges by the guarantor’s media organisation, multiple former Zenith Carex employees came forward with similar complaints of unpaid salaries. At least one former staff member reportedly had to pursue legal action before receiving her wages.

Company Silent

When contacted for comments, Olamilekan requested that inquiries be directed to the company’s email address. An inquiry was duly sent, but neither the CEO nor Zenith Carex International Limited had responded as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, after approximately 8 days in detention, Adetunji was granted bail and subsequently released. He appeared in court today, April 2, 2026, and the case has been adjourned till May 26, 2026.