Lagos sales apprentice Emenike accused of stealing employer’s N7m lands in prison

By Paul Iyoghojie

The police at the Area ‘A’ Command, Lion Building, Lagos Island, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria have arrested a Sales apprentice, Michael Emenike, 24 and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conniving with four others to defraud his employer of the sum of N7,000,000.

The four others charged with Emenike over the alleged fraud included Bright Ndubuishi, 28; Kekereekun Nofisat, 28; a POS Operator, Onyinyechi Nwankwo Mary, 22 and Chinedu Obialor, 25.

The police alleged that Emenike perpetrated the fraud by selling his employer’s goods and using other defendants’ accounts to divert the proceeds instead of remitting the money into his employer’s account.

Police further alleged that the scam became open when the complainant, Eric Ikweze audited the goods in his shop and discovered that his sales apprentice sold N7 million goods and allegedly converted the money to his use.

The defendants were charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Police prosecuting counsel, Kingsley Jackson told the court in the charge marked TB/33/2023 that the defendants committed the offence in the month of January 2021 and 2 June 2023 at No. 3, Idowu Street, Off Tinubu Square, Lagos Island, Lagos.

Jackson informed the court that Emenike connived with others to defraud his employer of the sum of N7 million and shared the money with them.

He said the offences the defendants committed were punishable under Sections 412 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel, Anayo Agbo prayed the court to grant the defendants bail in the most liberal terms, insisting that the defendants would not jump bail if granted.

Magistrate A. A. Paul granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case till 26th July, 2023 for mention.

Paul also directed that the defendants be detained at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional facilities till they perfected the bail conditions.