The Lagos State Police Command, on Monday, arraigned a 33-year-old marketer, Adewale Odegbesan, for allegedly stealing products worth N4m.
He was arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, before Magistrate O.Y. Adefope with the defendant charged with three counts of conspiracy to steal and theft.
The charges alleged that the defendant committed the offences between June 2023 and February 2024 at the Betty Distribution Company, Drop Point, Ajangbadi, Lagos, and conspired to steal products worth N4,431,300.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the company’s Human Resource Manager reported that the defendant, who was hired as a marketer, conspired with the store attendant, Sheriff Aminat, to steal the company’s products.
The alleged offence was discovered on February 6, 2024, after an audit was carried out, and it was noticed that products worth N4,431,300 were missing and the money was not remitted to the company’s account. It was discovered that he allegedly obtained goods from the company’s branch at Okokomaiko without the consent of the branch manager and refused to deliver them to customers.
After the report was made, the defendant was arrested and questioned, but there was no adequate evidence to link him to the alleged crimes, so further investigations were carried out by the police. Further investigation revealed evidence of the alleged offences, and the defendant confessed and promised to refund the money but did not.
Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offence was committed between June 2023 and February 2024 and contravened Sections 411, 314, and 287 (a) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The prosecutor also said the complainant’s statement and statements from the investigating officer served as evidence that the alleged offences were committed.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges alleged against him.
Nwaka ordered that a bail sum of N4m be paid and four sureties, who are residents of Lagos State, be provided.
He further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi correctional centre until he had perfected his bail terms. The case was adjourned to September 9, 2024.
