Petrol Station Manager Charged With N10m Theft
A petrol Station manager, Oluwagbemiga Idris Ajobi, was on Wednesday, arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for alleged stealing of N10 million belonging to his employer, Almoruf Service Station.
The 27 years old petrol station manager, was charged before the court on four counts charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, stealing and fraud, by the men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The police in a charge marked A/65b/18, alleged that the defendant and others now at large, on or before June 8, 2013, at Orelope-Egbeda branch of Almoruf Service Station, conspired among themselves to forge the company director’s signature, which they used in stealing the sum of N10 million from the company’s account.
The police also told the court defendant and others now at large,
the company’s payment vouchers which they used in defrauding the company of the said sum.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, contravened sections 409, 331(7),363(3) and 285(8) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
During the arraignment of the defendant, Animashaun informed the court that the defendant was arrested after his employer petitioned the Commissioner In-Charge of FCIID, Mr. Named Mogaji, on the unlawful act.
Animashaun told the court that upon receiving the petition, the defendant was arrested and during investigation, he confessed committing the act, and he was consequently charged to court.
The defendant after his arraignment, denied committing the acts and pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.
Following his plea of not guilty, his lawyer, Ayo Adebiyi, pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.
Adebiyi told the court that his client is a first time offender, and that the allegations against him are bailable ones.
Responding, the prosecutor, Animashaun told the court that his is not opposing the bail application, but urged the court to admit the defendant bail in the terms that will ensure his presence in court.
Ruling on the submissions of both parties, Chief Magistrate O. O. Oshin (Mrs.), granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in the same sum.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant, with a clearance letter from his or her management, while the other surety my be a blood relation to the defendant.
The chief Magistrate also ordered that the two sureties must present to court three years tax payable to the Lagos State government.
Chief Magistrate Oshin, however ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, pending the fulfilment of the bail terms. While adjourned the matter till October 22, for trial
