A 39-year-old businesswoman, Patricia Ikpe, on Thursday appeared before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged theft of N13.6 million.
Ikpe, who resides at Ogba Area of Lagos, is facing two charges of conspiracy and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the defendant with others at large, committed the offence between June 2018 and February 2019 at Omolara Badiru, Ogba, Lagos.
Uwadione alleged that the defendant bought goods valued at N13.6 million from the Complainant, Mr Akintola Oluwasheye.
“The defendant promised to pay back but failed to do so.
“Ikpe converted the money to her personal use and absconded.
“All efforts made by the complainant to get the defendant to refund the money proved abortive,” Uwadione said.
She said the offence contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 provides a three-year jail term for offenders.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Komolafe, granted the defendant a N5 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
Komolafe said that the sureties must be blood relations of the defendant.
She said that the sureties should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The chief magistrate adjourned the case until Nov. 27 for mention.
