2 Sales Workers Docked For Stealing Boss N40m At Alaba International Market
KINGSLEY EBERE
A 23-year old woman, Ibezim Chinecherem and her fellow worker, Nonso Onwuakpandu, 29, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing their boss’ N40m from sales at Alaba International Market.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between January 2023 to 8th day of March, 2025 at Ibidoja, Alaba International Market, Ojo, in the Ojo Magisterial District, where the suspect were employed as sales workers by the owner, Ifeanyi Destiny Okparaugo.
According to the Police, the suspects were engaged as workers by the complainant and they allegedly stole the money bit by bit to the tune of said amount in question before the complainant later discovered.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ojo Division and the suspects were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing money which they initially denied.
However, after thorough interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Ibezim Chinecherem ‘F’, Nonso Onwuakpandu, “M” and others now at large, between January 2023 to 8th day of March, 2025 at Ibidoja, Alaba International Market, Ojo, in the Ojo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Ibezim Chinecherem ‘F’, Nonso Onwuakpandu, “M” and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal cash sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira), property of one Ifeanyi Destiny Okparaugo ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
They pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Simeon Uche, then 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, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted them bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 7th May, 2025, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
