MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 36-year old man, John Itoro Matthew, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing N13.7m belonging to Zibira Technologies Limited.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Opebi Road, Opebi Ikeja, Lagos, where the company is located.
According to the Police, the suspect was employed by the company between March, 2024 and June, 2024 and he allegedly stole the money with others now at large.
However, the management embarked on an internal audit and discovered that the money was missing. The suspect was summoned to explain what happened but he was unable to do so. The matter was reported to the Police at Ikeja Division. He was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged conspiracy and stealing, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
COUNT I: “That you, John Itoro Matthew and others now at large, between the month of March, 2024 to the month of June 2024 at No. 22, Opebi Road, Opebi Ikeja, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire with others now at large to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, John Itoro Matthew and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Thirteen Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-one Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (N13, 771,800.00) belonging to Zibira Technologies Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, 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.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned 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.