Four sales managers arrested for allegedly stealing N572m from employer in Lagos
By Fatai Kasali
Four sales managers employed by Magnum Merchandise Company Limited, located at the Aspanda Section of the Trade Fair Market in Ojo, have been apprehended by the Nigeria Police Force Lagos at the Zone 2 Command, Lagos.
They have been accused of embezzling N572,479,100 from their employer, Mr. Ike Magnum, who serves as the CEO of Magnum Merchandise. The police have subsequently charged them before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court.
Police alleged that the defendants connived and sold their employer’s goods in the three branches of the company valued the sum of N572,479,100 and allegedly converted the proceeds to their use instead of remitting the money into their employer’s account and escaped.
Police identified the defendants as Ekenobi Christian, 50; Ohanyiri Onyeka, 34; Nnamdi Kenneth Ohorondu, 33 and Blessing Okpala, 33.
Police further alleged that the complainant uncovered the alleged fraud when he audited his company’s account and petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of Zone Command, Lagos. AIG Ari Ali Mohammed who swiftly directed his crack team led by Inspector Jasper Oparaji to fish out the suspect and the police team tracked and arrested the four suspects at their various hideouts.
The defendants were charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, stealing and threat to life.
Police prosecuting counsel, ASP Francis Igbinosa informed the court in the charge marked B/27/2023 that the defendants committed the offence on 23 August 2023 at Aspanda Market, Trade Fair, Ojo, Lagos.
Igbinosa told the court that the defendants betrayed the trust their employer reposed in them as sales managers in charge of the three branches of the company belonging to the complainant as they sold his goods valued at N572,479 and converted the money to their use instead of remitting the money into their employer’s account.
He said that the defendants threatened the life of the complainant that they would kill him if he dared inform anyone about the money.
Igbinosa said that the first defendant, Ekenobi Christian stole the sum of N336,000,000 from his employer and used the money to purchase land, buildings and cars namely Lexus RX300 with Reg. No. BDG963HA, Mercedez Benz ML300 and Toyota Highlander SUV.
Igbinosa told the court that the second defendant, Onyeka stole the sum of N134,409,100 and used the money to erect a 5-bedroom flat building at Mgbedi Local Government Area in Imo State, buy Lexus and Toyota SUV.
He said the third defendant, Blessing Okpala stole her employer’s N82,908,440 and used the money to establish Blissy Unique Hair and Cosmetic shop at River Plaza, Trade Fair Market, while the fourth defendant, Kenneth Ohorondu stole the sum of N20,624,100 adding that the defendants threatened to kill the complainant if he dared complain about the money again.
Igbinosa said the offences the defendants committed were punishable under Section 411, 287(7), (8) and 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate Mr. B. A. Sonuga granted them N5m bail each with two sureties each in like sum.
Mr. B. A. Sonuga adjourned the case till 5 December 2023 for mention and ordered that the defendants be detained at the Zone 2 Command, Lagos till they perfected the bail conditions.
