Two apprentices and three women on Thursday appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N11.4 million.
The defendants are Terkuma Harris, 22; Okpeke Chinedu, 23; Anjorin Precious, 20; Alade Omowunmi, 30; and Chika Chiamaka, 19.
They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property.
The police prosecutor, Insp Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired and committed the offences between 2024 and 2026 in Ado-Ekiti.
Oriyomi said Harris and Chinedu, who were apprentices, allegedly stole N11.4 million belonging to their employer, Mr Chinedu Nnamani, a dealer in fabrics and tailoring materials.
He said the other three defendants allegedly received the money from Harris and Chinedu, knowing it to be stolen.
According to the prosecutor, the two apprentices stole the money in instalments and transferred it into the various bank accounts of the three women.
The offences, he said, contravene Sections 302(1)(a), 343 and 421 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Oriyomi urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr Luke Mba, and counsel to the third, fourth and fifth defendants, Mr Oluwafemi Alabi, urged the court to grant them bail, assuring the court that they would not jump bail.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted each defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety each in like sum.
The case was adjourned until March 10 for hearing.
