On Thursday, a 32-year-old saleswoman, Sandra Ehiawaguan, was arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for fraudulently obtaining N1.1 million from a customer under false pretences.

Ms Ehiawaguan was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Insp Samuel Isholla, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 23, 2023, at Martins Street, Lagos Island.

He said the defendant conspired with one other POS operator, now at large, to collect the sum of N1,155,000 from one of her employer’s customers, Chukwumezie Kingsley.

Mr Isholla said Mr Kingsley reported the case at Area ‘A’ Police Command with a written petition, stating that on October 22, 2022, he employed the defendant as a sales girl and handed over the entire shop to her.

He said the complainant, however, said when the stock was taken at the end of 2023, it was discovered that goods consisting of children’s wares and shoes worth N 1,155,000 were missing.

The prosecutor also said the defendant couldn’t give a satisfactory account of the whereabouts of the goods when she was asked.

It was discovered that the defendant brought Princewill Maduakwu, a POS operator now at large, to do his business inside the shop without the complainant’s knowledge.

Mr Isholla said the defendant also used her UBA account and her cohort’s POS machine to receive money from her employer’s customer.

The prosecutor said instead of paying money into the company’s bank account, she converted the money to her personal use without the complainant’s consent.

He said the offences contravened sections 287(7), 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Chief magistrate A.A. Paul granted the defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum who must provide evidence of tax verification.
He adjourned the case until February 14 for mention.

(NAN)