6 Ibis Hotel Staff Arraigned Over Company’s Missing N50m Sales

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Six members of staff of Ibis Hotel have been arrested and charged in Lagos State over missing N50m sales made as they were unable to give account to the management. 

 

The suspects were Uchechukwu Mukoji, 42, Egele Jude, 36, Anichineye Patience, 27, Shofolarin Solomon, 26, Philip Ogheneovo, 39 and Ogone David, 43.

 

The incident happened between January, 2024 to January, 2025 at Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, where the hotel is located.

 

According to the Police, the management conducted an internal audit, discovered that the money was missing and summoned the staff to explained what happened, which they denied but were unable to explain satisfactorily.

 

Hence the matter was reported to the Police at Ikeja Division. The suspects were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing money.

 

After interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State.

The charges read:

“That you, Uchechukwu Mukoji, 42,Egele Jude, 36, Anichineye Patience, 27, Shofolarin Solomon, 26, Philip Ogheneovo, 39 and Ogone David, 43 with others now at large between January 2024 to January 2025 at No. 23 Toyin Street, Ikeja, in the ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

 

COUNT11:”That you, Uchechukwu Mukoji, 42,Egele Jude, 36, Anichineye Patience, 27, Shofolarin Solomon, 26, Philip Ogheneovo, 39 and Ogone David, 43, with others now at large on the same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000) from Ibis Hotel and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

 

However, they pleaded not guilty.

 

The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.

 

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

 

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in correctional center at Kirikiri town pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.