Story by Gbenga Ogunbufunmi

Four salesclerks were today, ordered to be remanded in prisons custody by an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for alleged stealing of N726. 724, 500, belonging to their boss, Mr. Emmanuel Ugo.

The four salesclerks ordered to be remanded in prisons custody by the court presided over by Chief Magistrate O. O. Oshin (Mrs) are: Augustine Ezeakana Achakuba, 26, Nwohidi Chineye Lawson, 29, Amenchi Oluchukwu, 34, and Eze Stephen Arinze, 31.

They were ordered to be remanded  after they had pleaded not guilty to the  four count charges of conspiracy, stealing and unlawful conversion of the total sum of N726 724, 500 belonging to their boss, Mr. Ugo, managing director of Solar Energy Ventures Industrial Enterprises having its registered office at Block 16. shop 17 Coke: Market, Orile, Lagos.

Arraigning the defendants on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, of the General Investigation Department, Forcer Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, told the court that all the defendants and others now at large, on or before November 9, 2018, conspired among themselves to to steal the sum of N724, 500, 000; N26 million and N7 million, totaling N726, 724, 500 million, proceeds of sales of goods in their boss’ company, without remitting into company’s account.

He also informed the court that the defendants and others now at large, converted the said money to their personal use.

Animashahu told the court that the offences committed by the defendants are contrary to and punishable under sections 411 and 287(7) of the criminal Laws Ch. C17, Vol 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015. Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendants’ lawyers, Mrs. Helen Ibeji, Tochukwu and Tayo A., urged the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms, as they were first time offenders without previous criminal record.

Following the request for the defendants’ bail, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oshin, admitted them to bail in the sum of N500, 000, 00 with two sureties each in the like sum.

She also ordered that the sureties must be residents of Lagos State and gainfully employed and must furnish the court with their means of livelihood, evidence of three year tax payment to the Lagos State government.

Magistrate Oshin also added that each of the sureties must have the sum of N500,00,00 standing balance in their bank accounts.

Chief Magistrate Oshin, while adjourned the matter till February 15, for mention, ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions