An accountant with a lubricant producing
firm in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Femi Akinola, has been arrested by the
police for allegedly stealing the company’s $50,000.
firm in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Femi Akinola, has been arrested by the
police for allegedly stealing the company’s $50,000.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the
company – Eterna Plc – had sent 30-year-old Akinola to withdraw the sum
from the United Bank for Africa in the Marina area on Thursday, November
17.
company – Eterna Plc – had sent 30-year-old Akinola to withdraw the sum
from the United Bank for Africa in the Marina area on Thursday, November
17.
On getting back to the office, he
reportedly told his boss that he was kidnapped on the way from the bank,
saying his abductors dispossessed him of the money and his phones.
reportedly told his boss that he was kidnapped on the way from the bank,
saying his abductors dispossessed him of the money and his phones.
Our correspondent gathered that Akinola was subsequently arrested by the police.
Police investigation reportedly revealed that he faked his own kidnap.
He was said to have led the operatives
to the fence of a primary school in the Bariga area, where $30,000
concealed inside a concrete block was recovered.
to the fence of a primary school in the Bariga area, where $30,000
concealed inside a concrete block was recovered.
While parading the suspect on Friday at
the Lagos State Command headquarters in Ikeja, the Commissioner of
Police, Fatai Owoseni, said Akinola stripped himself and threw his
phones into a river to perfect the ploy.
the Lagos State Command headquarters in Ikeja, the Commissioner of
Police, Fatai Owoseni, said Akinola stripped himself and threw his
phones into a river to perfect the ploy.
He said, “The suspect worked with a
multinational company in the state. He was sent to withdraw $50,000.
After withdrawing the money, he faked his own kidnap and claimed that
the kidnappers collected the money.
multinational company in the state. He was sent to withdraw $50,000.
After withdrawing the money, he faked his own kidnap and claimed that
the kidnappers collected the money.
“The police have been able to recover
$30,000. He confessed to have given out $15,000. We are making efforts
to recover the remaining sum.”
$30,000. He confessed to have given out $15,000. We are making efforts
to recover the remaining sum.”
However, Akinola, who hails from Ondo
State, denied feigning his abduction, saying one Kingsley, who
purportedly lives in United Kingdom, colluded with a fraudster to
swindle him out of the money.
State, denied feigning his abduction, saying one Kingsley, who
purportedly lives in United Kingdom, colluded with a fraudster to
swindle him out of the money.
The father of two children said
Kingsley’s accomplice hypnotised him, adding that the man had left
before it dawned on him that he had been defrauded.
Kingsley’s accomplice hypnotised him, adding that the man had left
before it dawned on him that he had been defrauded.
He said, “I am also into music. I used
to chat with one Kingsley in the UK, who wanted to help me with my music
career. I chatted with him that day and I told him that I just withdrew
$50,000. He told me he needed $15,000. He sent somebody to meet me
around Marina to collect the money. It was after the person collected
the money and my phones and left that I came to my senses.
to chat with one Kingsley in the UK, who wanted to help me with my music
career. I chatted with him that day and I told him that I just withdrew
$50,000. He told me he needed $15,000. He sent somebody to meet me
around Marina to collect the money. It was after the person collected
the money and my phones and left that I came to my senses.
“I was confused and didn’t know what to
do. At that point, I decided to hide the remaining $35,000 at the back
of a primary school in Bariga, and left for Epe to commit suicide. On
getting there, I changed my mind and reported to the police that I was
robbed.”
do. At that point, I decided to hide the remaining $35,000 at the back
of a primary school in Bariga, and left for Epe to commit suicide. On
getting there, I changed my mind and reported to the police that I was
robbed.”
The suspect stated that he was known for honesty, which had earned him awards from the company every year.
“I earn over N120,000 per month. I
didn’t have intention of using the money to promote my music career.
That was not the first time I would withdraw money for the company as an
accounting officer. I had withdrawn more than that in the past. I have
been working with the company for five years,” he added.
didn’t have intention of using the money to promote my music career.
That was not the first time I would withdraw money for the company as an
accounting officer. I had withdrawn more than that in the past. I have
been working with the company for five years,” he added.