A 38-year-old staff of Self Reliance Economic Advancement Programme, SEAP, has been dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo West Local Government area of Ondo State for allegedly stealing the sum of N3,905,400.00.
The defendant, identified as Saheed Adebayo, was accused of breach of trust and theft after failing to remit contributions made by some members of the organisation into the SEAP account.
It was gathered that Adebayo allegedly converted the contributions of SEAP members, who were said to be 34 in number, for his own personal use.
The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him, was said to have committed the offence between the month of April 2013 and June 2016 at SEAP’s Odotu Area Office in Ondo town.
The offence is contrary to section 383 (1) (2) (a) (b) and punishable under section 390 (8) (b) (9) of the Criminal code cap 37 volume 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
The charge sheet read in part, “That you, Saheed Adebayo between the month of April 2013 and June 2016 being an employee of Self Reliance Economic Advancement Programme (SEAP) at Odotu area office of the above named organisation Ondo in the Ondo magisterial district did steal the sum of N3,905,400.00 being contributions made by thirty four members of the said association which you fail to remit to the account of the said SEAP Organisation but converted same to your own use and thereby committed an offence contrary to section (1)(2)(a)(b) and punishable under section 390 (8)(b) (9) of the Criminal code cap 37 volume 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.”
The police prosecutor, Benard Olagbayi told the court that he would be calling six witnesses to testify in the case after which he subsequently applied for a date to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
The presiding Magistrate, Bolatito Ajibade granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000.00, with one surety in like sum following the application for bail by the defendant’s lawyer, O.O Onipe.
According to the Magistrate, “the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction, while they must attached affidavit of means, passport of the defendant and sureties must be attached also.”
She also directed that the court orderly should verify the residence of the would-be surety and report back to court.
The case was consequently adjourned till September 23, 2019 for further hearing.
