An apprentice and his accomplice were taken into custody by the Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly stealing more than N250 million worth of cement and other building supplies from their employer to fund gambling operations.
Ovie Ewhubare, the PSFU spokesperson, revealed this in a statement on Saturday.
Ewhubare claims that Rahman Airat and Ezekiel Taiwo, the accused, were hauled before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a five-count charge that included money laundering, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, conspiracy, and theft.
“In a significant development to an ongoing case of conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion of funds, embezzlement, and money laundering to the tune of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250,000,000), the PSFU has arraigned two suspects; Taiwo ‘M’ and Airat before the Federal High Court, Lagos,” Ewhubare stated.
The case followed a petition by Jimoh Atofolaki, who alleged that Taiwo, an apprentice under him and stationed at the Osogbo branch of his company, diverted company property, including bags of cement and other building materials, amounting to N250m.
“Investigations revealed that Taiwo conspired with Airat to convert the goods and used the proceeds for gambling,” Ewhubare added.
The Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Okunade Nurat, had advised business owners to be vigilant when hiring staff.
“We urge members of the public to be wary and always ensure that they carry out thorough background checks before employing individuals to take charge of their businesses,” the statement read.
In 2019, a 20-year-old apprentice, Kosi Nnamani, was also arrested for a similar offence.
He was later arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing goods valued at N1.94 million from his master.
