Marketer Arraigned for Allegedly Stealing N4m Worth of Products in Lagos

A 33-year-old marketer, Adewale Odegbesan has been arrested and arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command on Monday for allegedly stealing products worth over N4 million.

Adewale appeared before Magistrate O.Y. Adefope at the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, facing three counts of conspiracy to steal and theft.

The charges state that Adewale committed the offenses between June 2023 and February 2024 at Betty Distribution Company’s Drop Point in Ajangbadi, Lagos, conspiring to steal products valued at N4,431,300.

EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the company’s Human Resource Manager reported that Odegbesan, employed as a marketer, conspired with store attendant Sheriff Aminat to steal company products.

The theft was discovered on February 6, 2024, during an audit which revealed that products worth N4,431,300 were missing and the money was not deposited into the company’s account. It was found that Odegbesan had allegedly taken goods from the company’s Okokomaiko branch without the branch manager’s consent and failed to deliver them to customers.

Following the report, Odegbesan was arrested and interrogated, but initially, there was insufficient evidence to link him to the crimes. However, further investigations uncovered evidence, and Odegbesan eventually confessed, promising to refund the money but failing to do so.

Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the offenses, committed between June 2023 and February 2024, contravened Sections 411, 314, and 287 (a) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Magaji also stated that the complainant’s statement and the investigating officer’s statements served as evidence of the offenses.

Odegbesan pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Adefope ordered Odegbesan to pay a bail sum of N4 million and provide four sureties, all residents of Lagos State. Until the bail conditions are met, Odegbesan will be remanded at Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned to September 9, 2024.