A 43-year-old hotel attendant, Sunday Akachi, on Wednesday appeared before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for alleged stealing and malicious damage to the tune of N23.8 million.
The defendant, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on a two-count charge of stealing and malicious damage preferred by the police.
The prosecutor, Insp Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences from January 2021 to January 2022, at Keviz Hotel and Suites, Igando, Lagos State.
He said that the defendant stole N13 million and maliciously damaged musical instruments worth N10.8 million.
The prosecutor said that the money and the instruments belonged to the defendant’s employer, Keviz Hotel and Suites.
According to him, the defendant could not give a satisfactory explanation of what happened to the money.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravene Sections 287 (7) and 339 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 (7) provides for three years’ imprisonment for stealing from one’s employer while Section 339(1) provides for two years’ imprisonment for malicious damage to property.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mr E. O. Ogunkanmi, granted him bail in the sum two million Naira with two sureties.
He adjourned the case until April 4 for mention.
