MICHAEL AKINOLA
The manager of Toplist Chemical Company Limited, Ejiro Beme, has been arrested and charged before a Court in Lagos State for allegedly swindling the company by carting away chemical products worth N35m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the company’s office located at Ilasamaja area of Lagos, where the 45-year old Beme was employed as manager.
The Police alleged that the manager, Beme, between 2022 and 2023 conspired with another person now at large believed to be the buyer, stole the products worth the said amount including caustic soda, nitric acid, hydrated lime, alchohol content and others.
The alleged theft got exposed after the company conducted internal audit and discovered that the products were missing and the matter was reported to the Commissioner of Police Special Squad.
Beme was then arrested and detained for interrogation over the missing products.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, he pleaded not guilty when he was arrested.
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. B.O. Osunsanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N1.5m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned till 11th October, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.