An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday acquitted a lawyer, Yetunde Sousa, accused of stealing N50.2 million from Dominos Stores and Ozone Cinemas.

Delivering judgment, Justice Raliat Adebiyi said, “The state failed to establish a prima facie against the defendant as there was no nexus linking the defendant to the allegations.”

Acquitting Ms. Sousa, the judge held that Sousa only acted in her professional capacity in the lease of a property in question.

The lawyer was charged with theft by the Lagos government, which alleged that Ms. Sousa committed the offence between May and December 2011 at the Dominos Stores, Alagomeji, Lagos.

The offence, the state added, contravened the provisions of Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Laws Cap C17, Vol. 2 of Lagos State 2003.

The lead state prosecutor, Mrs. Rotimi Odutola alleged that the money which belonged to the supermarket and cinema was given to the lawyer by Mr. Michael Murray-Bruce, and was meant for the renewal of the lease of a property situated at 1 Habour Road, Apapa, Lagos which belonged to NFS Food and Cold Storage Ltd.During the course of the trial, three witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution and three witnesses including the defendant also testified for the defence. 

(NAN)