24th September, 2018
Police on Monday, arraigned a 31-year-old sales representative, Abdullahi Martadha, at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing and gambling with his employer’s N1 million.
The accused, whose address was not given, is being tried on a one count-charge of theft.
The prosecutor, Insp. Ben Ekundayo told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 31, at about 11:30a.m. at Ebute-Ero Market, Lagos Island.
He alleged that the accused, who works as a sales representative for the complainant, Mrs Florence Oluwaji, stole N1 million been sales proceeds and staked it in Bet9ja.
Ekundayo said that Bet9ja is an online bookmaker company that offers betting on major sporting events.
He alleged that the complainant had travelled for a month leaving the accused in charge of her business.
According to him, when the complainant returned and took stock, she discovered N1 million worth of goods missing.
“The accused who was asked to give account of what happened to the goods admitted to selling them but that he used the sales proceeds to play Bet9ja”, the prosecutor told the court.
He said the offence contravened Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which prescribes seven years imprisonment for any offender, if found guilty.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olumide Fusika, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till Nov. 7, for trial.