Company Director, Other Jailed 5 Years Each for Stealing Company’s Vehicles, Laptops Worth Millions

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A Lagos Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a company director and other to five years imprisonment each for conspiracy and stealing properties worth millions of naira belonging to their former employer in Ikeja, Lagos.

Chief Magistrate Philip A. Ojo of the Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Surulere Court No. 1, delivered the judgment on September 25, 2026, after finding the defendants guilty on all three counts of an amended criminal charge.

The convicts are Okpara Lucky Odjuvwu, also known as Dollarwise, 48, a Director of Green Nature International Limited, a multi-level marketing company, and Stephen Friday Chukwu, 43.

The court held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of conspiracy and stealing against the two men.

Chief Magistrate Ojo sentenced each convict to five years imprisonment on each of the three counts. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning each will serve a maximum of five years in prison.

The court, however, gave them an option to pay the full value/worth of the stolen properties in lieu of serving the custodial sentence.

Immediately after the judgment was delivered, the two convicts were handcuffed and taken away to the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Ikoyi, Lagos, by officials of the Correctional Service.

The case, marked Charge No. A/176A/2018, was prosecuted by Mr. Julio Hodonu, Esq., of the Directorate of Legal Services, Nigeria Police Force, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the offences were committed in December 2017 at the office of Helping Hands International Concept Limited, located at No. 5, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

The prosecution told the court that Odjuvwu and Chukwu conspired together and stole motor vehicles and laptops belonging to Helping Hands International Concept Limited.

During trial, the prosecution called witnesses and tendered documentary evidence to establish how the properties were removed from the company’s premises without authorization and converted to personal use.

The defence, on its part, denied the allegations and urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove ownership and criminal intent.

In his judgment, Chief Magistrate Ojo painstakingly reviewed the evidence before the court and held that the prosecution established a clear case of common intention to commit the offences.

The Magistrate noted that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was consistent, credible and corroborated by documents, while the defence failed to raise any reasonable doubt.

He consequently convicted both defendants on counts one to three and imposed the custodial sentences as prescribed by law.

The judgment brings to an end a legal battle that has lasted about eight years since the charge was first filed in 2018.

Legal practitioners who witnessed the sentencing described it as a strong warning to company executives and employees entrusted with corporate assets.

They noted that breach of trust in the workplace, especially involving high-value assets like vehicles and official equipment, attracts severe punishment under Lagos State criminal laws.

The court emphasized that the option of restitution was granted to encourage the convicts to make full restitution to the nominal complainant, Helping Hands International Concept Limited.

As at the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether the convicts would take advantage of the option of fine or proceed on appeal against the judgment.