Oluwatosin Lamidi
A 46-year-old hotelier, Paul Mogaji, who allegedly stole the sum of N23 million, from Federal Palace Hotel, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court Lagos.
Mogaji who is facing a count charge of stealing preferred against him, by the police was docked before Magistrate A. F. O Botoku.
The defendant, a resident of 23, Onitire Street, Itire Surulere, was a supervisor in the financial department of the hotel.
The prosecutor, Sargent Francisca Job, told the court that the defendant committed that alleged offence sometime between January, 2013 and November, 2016, at Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island Lagos.
She said that Mogaji, who was a staff of the hotel and in charge of Casino stole the said money, property of the hotel.
The prosecutor said ” He stole the money in bits, whenever he steals he hides it inside his shoes.”
According to the prosecutor the alleged offence committed is punishable under sections 287 (7) of the Criminal laws of Lagos state 2015.
However the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
The Magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos State government and have their addresses verified.
She adjourned the case till March 27, for mention.
