KINGSLEY EBERE
A 32-year old staff of Greenlife Pharmaceutical Limited, Onebunne Nelson Chinanu, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing the company’s products worth over N26m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at 354 Association Avenue, Ilupeju area of Lagos, where the company is located and the suspect was employed as a medical representative.
According to the Police, the suspect conspired with others now at large and allegedly stole 354 assorted cartons of pharmaceutical products worth the said amount.
However, the theft was discovered after the company conducted an internal audit and discovered that the items were missing and the suspect was unable to explain what happened.
The matter was reported to the Police at the State Command, Ikeja and the suspect was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over the missing items.
The Police found him culpable after thorough interrogation and charged him before the Yaba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, ONEBUNNE NELSON CHINANU ‘M’, and others still at large, on or about 20th of March 2024, at No. 354 Association Avenue, Ilupeju Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, ONEBUNNE NELSON CHINANU ‘M’, and others still at large on or before 20th of March 2024, at No. 35 Association Avenue, Ilupeju Lagos, in de Lagos Magisterial District, whilst in the employment of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Ltd as a medical representative, did steal 354 assorted cartons of vanetes of pharmaceutical products, valued the sum of N26,479,040.00 (Twenty Six Million Four Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand Naira, Forty Kobo, property of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Ltd and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.I.O. Alaka, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 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 for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.