15-year-old apprentice allegedly steals N958,000 from master

A teenage apprentice, Prince Okemgbo, has been arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing his master’s N958,000.

Appearing before Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje on Tuesday, 5th of December, 15-year-old Okemgbo was accused of theft. He, however, pleaded not guilty.

Police prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant committed the crime on November 21 at Cele Close, Odo Osan, Egan Igando, Lagos.

She said that the apprentice, who serves under the complainant, Mr Hycent Uche, had abruptly fled the premises with the money.

“He broke the safe in the shop and made away with the sum of N958,000 being sales made for the week that his master was supposed to take to the bank the next day. He ran away to the village without allowing anyone to know of his movement,” Ajayi said.

According to the Prosecution counsel, the offence is in contravention of Section 287 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje granted the defendant N100,000 bail with two responsible sureties in the same amount. She added that ine of the sureties must be a blood relative.

The Magistrate adjourned the case until December 19.