Lagos – A waiter, Patrick Archibong, who allegedly stole $1,400 dollars (N336, 000 equivalent) from an international traveller was on Wednesday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Archibong, 29, who lives at No. 21, Oredapo St., Akowonjo, Lagos, however, said he was not guilty of the one-count charge of stealing he was charged with.
But the Prosecutor, Insp Frank Inah, said that Archibong stole the dollars of one Mercy Okoro who was travelling to Paris, France.
He said the accused stole from Okoro at the Gafol Lounge located inside Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja and was caught on camera in the act.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The prosecutor said: “He did steal from the complainant while at the VIP Section of the lounge.
“On getting to Paris, Okoro discovered that her purse was missing.
“She called the manager of the lounge, Mr Temidayo Adeniyi, to report about her missing purse.
“Adeniyi confirmed seeing the purse but that $1,400 dollars was missing out of the $7,900 dollars in it.
“Part of the investigation was to review the CCTV camera footages for the day and it could be seen in one of them showing the accused removing the money from the purse.“
Inah said that the offence was committed on July 14 at about 10:40 p.m.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravenes Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 of the Criminal law of Lagos State prescribes a seven-year jail term for offenders.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate M.O. Osinbajo granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
The case was adjourned till Aug. 19. (NAN)
