MICHAEL AKINOLA
An 18-year old Pharmaceutical cashier, Orji Onyekachukwu, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling the company to the tune of over N13m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd, located at Ejigbo, Lagos State, where the suspect, Onyekachi was employed by the company.
According to the Police, the suspect fraudulently altered and falsified the account of Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd and stole the said amount of money without the consent of the management.
However, the alleged fraud got exposed after the company embarked on an internal audit. The company discovered that the money was missing and that the suspect altered the company’s account books to steal the money.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ejigbo Division and the suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
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 charges read:
“That you, Prince Orji Onyekachukwu ‘m’, on the 26th day of October 2024, at Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd, Ejigbo, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N13,183,650.00 (Thirteen Million One Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Naira only) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Count II: “That you, Prince Orji Onyekachukwu ‘m’, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, as the cashier in charge Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd, did steal the sum of N13,183,650.00 (Thirteen Million One Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Naira only), property of Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 (7) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Count III: “That you, Prince Orji Onyekachukwu ‘m’, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, as the cashier of Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd, did fraudulently alter and falsify account of Pharma Mall Global Resources Ltd and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 337 (a) (b) (c) 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, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted him bail with two sureties, 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.