Store Keeper In Trouble Over Alleged Stealing Of N7.8m Assorted Drinks

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A store keeper at City Ballers Lounge, Chibuzor Ugba, has landed in trouble for allegedly stealing asssorted drinks kept inside store to the tune of N7.8m in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the Lounge located at Ailegun Road, Bucknor area of Ejigbo, Lagos State, where Ugba was employed as store keeper.

According to the Police,  the store keeper had between July, 2023 and September,2024, stolen the drinks to the tune of the said amount before the management later discovered.

According to the Police, the matter got exposed after the management carried out an internal audit and it was discovered that the drinks to the tune of the said amount were missing and he was unable to explain what happened.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ejigbo Division and the store keeper was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing items.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charge read:

COUNT I: “That you, Chibuzor Ugba, between the month of July, 2023 and September 2024 at City Ballers Lounge, No 76, Ailegun Road, Bucknor Ejigbo, Lagos State, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, being the stock keeper of the above lounge did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by converting the money meant for the purchase of diesel, drinks in the lounge, totaling N7,854,000 (Seven million Eight hundred and fifty four thousand Naira) property of City Bollers lounge and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

COUNT II: “That you, Chibuzor Ugba, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the total sum of N7,854,000 (Seven million Eight hundred and fifty four thousand Naira) property of City Ballers Lounge and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, 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, Mr. T.A. Popoola, granted him bail in the sum of N1m 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 till 17th February, 2025, 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.