N52M Theft: Accountants in Soup for Allegedly Cooking the Books

Ladipo Sanusi/

Four accountants have appeared before a Court in Lagos over the theft of N52million using forged deposit slips.
The accountants who were staff of a distribution firm, Capricorn Digital Solutions and Distribution, were identified 34-year-old Olayinka Badru; Yewenu Samuel, 33; Adeyinka Adekoya, 30, and Ojo Ayoola Olukayode, 34.

They appeared before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, in Lagos, and were remanded in prison.
They were arraigned by the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Lagos, before Magistrate O. O. Oshin (Mrs) on a three count-charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and forgery.
The police in a charge marked A/01/2018, alleged that the four accused persons who worked in the account department of the firm at 3, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Ajao Estate, Lagos, had sometimes in March, 2017, conspired among themselves and others now at large to commit the act.
According to the police, the four accused persons forged several deposit slips from Zenith Bank Plc.
Police prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, said the “offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 325, 287(8) and 365(3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2015”.
The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon their pleas of not guilty to the charges, their lawyer, Mr. Austin Okey, pleaded with the Court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms.
Consequently, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Oshin, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in the same sum.
The magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must be a Civil Servant in Grade Level 14 and above, while the second surety must be a blood relation to the accused persons.
That magistrate also ordered that the sureties who must be residents of the state, must also show the court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos state government, with proof of means of livelihood.
Magistrate Oshin also ordered the prosecutor to verify the addresses of the sureties.
The magistrate has adjourned the matter till February 2, 2018, for mention. The accused persons were however ordered to be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.