The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned an accountant, Rasak Adeniji, before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding his employer, Damtina Stores Limited, of the sum of N10m, and laying claims to the firm’s property.
The 50-year-old was arraigned before Magistrate A.O. Olatunbosun on seven counts of conspiracy, misrepresentation of facts, stealing, unlawful eviction and claim to employer’s property.
The police prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that Adeniji wrote two letters to the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority on September 28, 2021, with the letterhead of Damtina Stores Limited without the authorisation of the company.
Animashaun alleged that the defendant had lied to an Epe Magistrates’ Court, which led to the wrongful eviction of one Jonathan Agwu from the company’s property at No.18, Abiku Oki Street, Lagos Island.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant misrepresented facts to the court and falsely testified that Agwu was not a tenant, which led to his unlawful eviction.
Animashaun further told the court that the defendant falsified documents of Damtina Stores Limited to lease the property to a firm, Paulijyk Interbiz Limited, and collected the sum of N250,000 from the company in order to fast-track the lease of the property to them.
Animashaun added that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 325(1), 287 (8), 370(a)(b), 96 (a), 83 (b), and 412 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.
The charges read in part, “That you, Rasak Adeniji, and others still at large, sometime between September and December 2018, at 18, Abiku Oki Street, Lagos Island, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire to defraud Damtina Stores Limited of its property, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 325 (1) of the of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand Adeniji in a custodial centre pending the determination of the suit.
However, the defence counsel, O. Olusumade, urged the court to grant his client bail.
Granting the request, Magistrate Olatunbosun admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1m with two responsible sureties in like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant and the second surety must be a land owner within the jurisdiction of the court.
The magistrate also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre till he fulfilled his bail terms.
The case was adjourned till February 27, 2023.