By Adenike Omotoyinbo
Ikeja – Two men who allegedly cheated their employer by selling drinks bought from outside to hotel customers were on Thursday dragged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, Anthony Okeke, 28 of No. 5, Karimu Lila St., Bus Stop, Egbeda, Lagos, while Solomon Eze, 27, lives at No. 8, Asiko Oluwa st., Iyana-ipaja, Lagos.
The duo are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and cheating.
The prosecution alleged that the accused conspired together to cheat their employer, Jaspand International Hotel, by diverting the hotel’s money into their personal use.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Nomayo Kenrich, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 16, about 8:30 a. m. at No. 4, Olusegun Osunkale Estate, Orile-Agege, a Lagos suburb.
“The accused cheated their employer by buying and selling alcoholic drinks to the hotel customers, leaving the hotel drinks unsold and diverting the money into their pockets.”
The offences contravened Sections 323(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 323(1) provides two years imprisonment for cheating while Section 411 also stipulates two years jail term for conspiracy.
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted them bail of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Kubeinje said that the sureties should be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the Court.
She adjourned the case until May 21, for mention.