2 School Staff Cart Away N12m During Covid-19 Lockdown

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Two members of staff of Ebenezer Montessori School, Labak Estate in Oko-Oba area of Lagos, have landed In trouble after the management alleged that they stole over N12m belonging to the school during the Covid-19 lockdown.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, namely Kayode Akinlade, 53 and Omotayo Salami, 34, have been arrested and charged for conspiracy and stealing.

According to Police sources, the alleged fraud, which took place between September 2019 and March 2020, was discovered during the Covid-19 lockdown while on internal auditing of the school account.

It was gathered that the affected members of staff were employed and entrusted to manage the school account with less supervision but they reportedly turned it as opportunity to enrich themselves. It was going on for almost one year before it was discovered by the management.

They were handed over to the Police at Oko-Oba Division and subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.

They pleaded not guilty. 
The prosecutor, Supol Ajayi Kehinde, asked the Court to give a date to enable the Police to prove that they committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Ajibade, granted them bail with two sureties which one must be a land owner in Lagos State.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition before they will be released.

The defendants may likely spend some years in custody if they are tried and found guilty before Court for the alleged offence.