The manager of White Royal Hotel, owned by the heir apparent, Prince Idris Balogun, popularly known as Olu’omo Kafata, has landed in trouble for allegedly stealing N5m from sales at the hotel.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the manager, Chukwudiegwu John Smith and his worker, Tolulope Eniola, have been arrested and charged for conspiracy and stealing over their alleged conduct.
The incident happened on 23rd November, 2024, at the hotel located at Igando/LASU Expressway, Idimu area of Lagos, where the suspects were employed as workers.
According to the Police, the suspects allegedly conspired and stole the money in question with the intention that the Management will not know that such money was missing.
However, the alleged fraud got exposed after the management conducted an internal audit and discovered that the money was missing and the suspects were linked to the fraud.
The matter was reported to the Police at Idimu Division and the suspects were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing money.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Chukwudiegwu John Smith and Tolulope Eniola, on the 23rd day of November, 2024, at about 1800hrs at White Royal Hotel, located at LASU/ Igando Road in the Lagos Magisterial district, did conspire to wit stealing thereby committed an offence punishable under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Chukwudiegwu John Smith and Tolulope Eniola, on the 23rd day of November, 2024, at about 1800hrs at White Royal Hotel, did conspire and steal the total sum of Five Million Naira (N5.000 000) belonging to White Royal Hotel and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, granted them 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 defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.