Man, 28, Arraigned For Allegedly Diverting N20m Company Fund At Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja

Pedro Damilola Dare, male, 28 years, was brought before Magistrate Mrs O. Kusanu on a two-count charge bordering on fraudulent diversion and stealing, contrary to the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Prosecutor SP Philip Adegbemuji told the court that the case was reported by Engr. Oluremi Iroko, who represented Process Piping and Installation Limited, and investigated by the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 1, CP SS 1, Ikeja, led by IPO Inspr. Noah Okloho, under the supervision of SP Banti Adamu, O/C Command Tactical Squad, Ikeja.

According to the charge sheet marked Charge No. NIT/187129/2026 – Commissioner of Police Vs Pedro Damilola Dare ‘M’ 28Yrs, approved by District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the alleged offences were committed between the month of June 2026 and August 2026 at No. 30, Alhaji Jimoh Street, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District.

Count one alleged that Pedro Damilola Dare, between June 2026 and August 2026, at No. 30, Alhaji Jimoh Street, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain and divert the sum of Twenty Million Naira, N20,000,000.00, property of Process Piping and Installation Limited represented by Engr. Oluremi Iroko – 08067211927, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Count two alleged that Pedro Damilola Dare, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of Twenty Million Naira, N20,000,000.00, property of Process Piping and Installation Limited represented by Engr. Oluremi Iroko, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 287(7)(8) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

SP Philip Adegbemuji explained to the Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba that complainant Engr. Oluremi Iroko, representing Process Piping and Installation Limited, alleged that Pedro Damilola Dare, who was entrusted with company responsibility at their office located at No. 30, Alhaji Jimoh Street, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, fraudulently obtained and diverted N20m belonging to the company for his own use between June and August 2026.

According to the complainant, efforts to recover the N20m from Pedro Damilola Dare proved abortive, leading to a formal report at the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 1, CP SS 1, Ikeja, where IPO Inspr. Noah Okloho investigated the matter.

After investigation, Pedro Damilola Dare was arrested and the matter was charged to court through the District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba.

When the charge was read to Pedro Damilola Dare before Magistrate Mrs O. Kusanu at about 12:39pm, he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of fraudulent diversion and stealing.

Magistrate Mrs O. Kusanu granted him bail with two responsible sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.

Mrs O. Kusanu ordered that the two sureties must be gainfully employed with verifiable addresses within Lagos State, must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and must produce valid means of identification to the court registrar.

Pending the perfection of his bail conditions, Magistrate Mrs O. Kusanu ordered that Pedro Damilola Dare be remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending the perfection of bail conditions.

The court adjourned the matter for mention and trial.

The court emphasized that Pedro Damilola Dare is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court of competent jurisdiction as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

If found guilty under Section 315 and Section 287(7)(8), he is liable to imprisonment as prescribed by law for fraudulent diversion and stealing.