Police Arrest Apprentice, One Other For Stealing N250 Million Worth of Building Materials, Financing Gambling Activities
Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Police Special Fraud Unit, (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested an apprentice, identified as Ezekiel Taiwo, and his accomplice, Rahman Airat, for allegedly stealing cement and other building materials worth over N250m from his employer, Jimoh Atofolaki, to finance gambling activities.
OTN News further reports that the PSFU spokesman, Ovie Ewhubare, who disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday, said that 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.
According to Ewhubare, the suspects, Ezekiel Taiwo and Rahman Airat, have been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion, embezzlement, and money laundering.
“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.
Furthermore, Ewhubare said, “Investigations revealed that Taiwo conspired with Airat to convert the goods and used the proceeds for gambling."
The statement, however, added that the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Okunade Nurat, 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.
Subsequently, OTN News recalls that in 2019, a similar case occurred when 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.
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