Man defrauds cotton company of N15m

A 32-year-old man, Ndubuisi Aloo, has been accused of defrauding a cotton company, West African Cotton Company, of N15m.

The police said the incident happened around December 2013 when Aloo and one Augustine Nwachukwu were contracted by Universal Shipping and Logistics Solutions Limited to transport two containers of sesame seeds to the company.

The containers reportedly contained 720 bags of the seeds and were loaded at the Universal Shipping warehouse en route the Apapa port.

Our correspondent learnt that both men, together with one Eze, who drove one of the trucks, however, diverted the goods to Ogun State.

It was learnt that the N15m goods were sold to one Alfa at N2.5m and the money shared among the three men.

When the goods were not delivered as expected by WACOT, the matter was reported at the Apapa Police Station.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that after the fraud, Aloo, who hails from Ohazara in Ebonyi State, was paid N300,000 which he had used to purchase a vehicle for transport business.

He was arrested and arraigned at an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court on three counts of stealing.

Nwachukwu, Eze and Alfa, were, however, said to be at large.

The charge reads in part, “That you, Ndubuisi Aloo, and others now at large on December 2013, about noon in Apapa Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to with stealing.

“That you did steal two containers of 720 bags of sesame seeds, valued at N15m, property of West African Cotton Company.”

The police prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, said the offence was punishable under sections 409, 278, 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,  Nigeria 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial.

The Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Samuel Zokro, was in court, but the defrauded company was not represented.

The defence counsel, Ali Aba, asked for the bail of the defendant in liberal terms.

The magistrate, Ms Y. B Badejo-Okusanya, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till March 19, 2014.