A 33-year-old man, Babatunde Sanni, who allegedly defrauded his employer of N31 million, was on Wednesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ court in Lagos.
Sanni, who resides in Bariga area of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police prosecutor attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Mr J.I. Enang, said that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2018 at the Ilupeju area of Lagos.
He said that the defendant was a staff of the complainant’s company, IC Outsourcing Ltd., and was responsible for collecting money from investors on behalf of the company.
According to him, the defendant diverted the sum of N31 million to his personal use, claiming that he mistakenly sent the money to a customer of the company, a representation he knew to be false.
The offences contravened sections 411, 314 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 is punishable by 15 years imprisonment for obtaining by false pretences, while 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.
Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
Adedayo held that the sureties must also submit copies of their National Identification Number (NIN), and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to the court.
She further directed that one of the sureties must be a landowner, both must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and gainfully employed with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government. Adedayo adjourned the case until May 18 for mention.