KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the Ipaja Division of the Lagos State Command have arrested the manager of Royal P Hotel, Chibike Opara, for allegedly stealing assorted drinks worth over N1.95m belonging to the owner, Nwosu Ambrose.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 10th November, 2024, at the hotel located at Oke Oko area of Ipaja, where he was employed as the manager.
The 30-year old manager was charged for conspiracy and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State over his alleged conduct.
According to the Police, the suspect was entrusted with the missing items and he allegedly sold them but did not remit the money to the company’s account.
The alleged fraud was exposed after the management conducted an internal audit and discovered that the items were missing and the manager was unable to explain what happened.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ipaja Division. He was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing drinks. And having been found culpable after interrogation, he was consequently charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you Chibike Opara ‘M’ and thred 0400hrs at Royal P Hotel Oke Oko in Ipaja area of Lagos on 10th November, 2024, did conspire 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 Chibike Opara ‘M’ and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal beer with bottles and crates, Heineken 18,000.00, Goldberg 10,000.00, Trophy beer 10,000,00, Three can malt 15,000.00 each, 3 cartons of Maltina plastic 4700 each, Zagg drink 18,000.00, 5 cartons of Fearless drink 4700 each, 3 big bottle of Gordon’s gin 8,000.00 each, 5 cartons of Jameson whiskey 25,000.00 each, 5 cartons of Action Bitters 15,500.00 each, all valued 1,951,400.00 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Four Hundred Naira Only) property of one Mr. Nwosu Ambrose ‘M’ thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then 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 offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Usman, 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 till 11th December, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.