Three sales girls; Olamide Efuntade, Nofisat Hammed, and Aliyat Adio were on Wednesday arraigned before a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba for allegedly conspiring to steal N24.5 million from their employer.
A lawyer from the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID), Morufu Animashaun, informed the court that the alleged offences occurred between 2024 and March 9, 2025, at 27 Nollah Street, Abaranje Road, Ikotun, Lagos State.
Animashaun claimed that the stolen funds belonged to Mrs Adenike Adelanwa, who employed the three defendants as sales representatives.
The lawyer told the court that Efuntade allegedly stole N13 million. While he accused Hammed and Adio of stealing N10 million and N1.5 million, respectively.
The prosecutor stated that the defendants used their accounts to receive customer payments. And then diverted the funds to their own use to carry out the alleged thefts.
Animashaun stated that the defendants actions contravened Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law, Cap C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following that, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the determination of the case.
Responding, the defence lawyers applied for bail for the defendants. He argued that the offences are bailable and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
After listening to the both parties, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje granted each defendant bail of N2 million, with two responsible sureties for each.
The Magistrate also ordered that the sureties be gainfully employed and that the prosecutor verify their addresses.
The case has been adjourned to May 12, 2025, for a mention.
source: Leadership