Two salesgirls were on Monday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly stealing N54 million from the proceeds of artificial hair they sold for their employer.
The defendants: Chiamaka Agboso, 34, and Chinwe Asionye, 37, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police prosecutor attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Williams Ologun, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime between March and November 2021.
He said that they committed it at Krishair Nigeria Limited, located at 33, Breadfruit Street, off Oke-Arin Street in Balogun Market, Lagos.
Ologun said that the defendants were employed as salesgirls and meant to sell the artificial hair and collect payments for the company.
He stated that the defendants, however, allegedly sold the hair and stole some of the proceeds of the sales for eight months.
The offences contravene Sections 411 and 287 of the criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 411 is prescribes two years imprisonment for conspiracy, while 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for the offence of theft.
The Chief Magistrate, Linda Balogun, admitted the defendant on bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Balogun said that both sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed, with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She held that the sureties must also show proof of employment, proof of their sources of income and must have their addresses and offices verified by the court.
Balogun adjourned the case until March 10, 2022 for mention.