A 26-year-old protocol officer, Ferdinand Marshal, who allegedly stole N180,100 from the Worship City Church, Abuja on Friday appeared in a Life Camp Magistrates’ Court.
The police charged Marshal, who lives in Gwarinpa, Abuja, with theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Peter Ejik, told the court that Precious Francis, Stella Okatahi and Favour Victor reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on January 13.
Ejike alleged that on January 3, Francis entrusted N73,100 to the defendant to deposit into an Access Bank account of the Church.
He alleged that the defendant failed to deposit the money and criminally converted it for his personal use.
The prosecutor further alleged that on January 2, the defendant stole an HP laptop and Dell laptop valued at N140,000 each from the church.
He also alleged that the defendant stole N34,000.
Ejike said during police investigation, the defendant admitted to the crimes.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Magistrate Sharon Tanko admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety.
Tanko ordered that the surety must have a verifiable means of livelihood and deposit his or her identity card at the court registry for verification.
She also ordered that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and his or her address must be verified by the court officer.
Tanko adjourned the case until March 11 for hearing.
