Scandal Rocks ZENFIX Over Boy, 16, Sent To Prison Over N500

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A scandal is presently rocking peanuts producing company, known as ZENFIX Limited, in Igando area of Lagos State, owned by Mrs. Taibat Dayo Hamzat, who reportedly employed a 16-year old boy, Edidion Sunday and he was sent to prison over N500.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the company located at 10 College Road, Igando area of Lagos, allegedly conspired with the Igando Police Division and increased Edidion Sunday’s date of birth to reflect 18 years in order to send him to prison against the protest by his family that he is still a minor.

The boy, Sunday, is presently languishing in custody with hardened criminals because of the alleged falsification of his age before being charged before the Court.

The boy’s journey to prison started when he was employed by the company with paltry monthly salary of between N13,000 to N15,000 about two months ago.

Some old workers of the company were said to have stolen 2 kegs of vegetable oil worth about N54,000 and were caught by the security men, who reported to the management.

The suspects, Kingsley Ogbu, 23, Joshua Damilare, 24, Lekan Arishe, 30 and Ikechukwu Frank, 24, were handed over to the Police at Igando Division for interrogation over the act.

During interrogation, one of the suspects mentioned that he gave Edidion Sunday N500 when they stole the item so that he will not report to the management before they were caught.

The boy, who was at home when the suspects were arrested, went to receive his salary for the month but the manager was ordered not to pay him his salary rather to hand him over to the Police for his alleged involvement having collected the money from one of the suspects.

At the Igando Police Division, the Investigation Police Officer, Inspector Amansowoma Christopher, was said to have asked him the date of his birth and he mentioned September 2005.

It was then the management asked the IPO to increase the age to 18, so that he will be arraigned with others because they did so in their company where he was employed as worker.

The Police were also directed by the management to increase the items that were stolen from 2 kegs  to 140 kegs vegetable oil worth N3.5m belonging to Mrs. Hamzat.

They were accordingly charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for conspiracy and stealing.

They pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned. 

The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, did not object to their being granted bail because it was a bailable offence.

Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.S Okubule, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum for each.

They were remanded in custody pending when they will perfect their bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 21st February, 2022.