Court fixes trial of NBC manager for June 24

LAGOS Chief Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, fixed June 24, 2015, for the trial of a manager with Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Olubusayo Abayomi, who is alleged to have stolen the sum of N68, 703, 480, from the company.

Olubusayo, the NBC Plant/Logistics manager, was charged before the court by men of Department of Criminal Investigation of Lagos state Police Command, Panti-Yaba, on a two count-charge, bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Count one of the charges levelled against the accused reads; “that you Olubusoye Abayomi Ayodeji, 40, and other now at large, between the month of June 2011, and June 2014, at Nigerian Bottling Company, Iddo House, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the criminal laws if Lagos state of Nigeria, 2012.”

Count two of the charge reads; “that you Olubusoye Abayomi Ayodeji, on the same date, time and place,in the aforesaid magisterial district, while in the employment of NBC limited as Acting Plant Manager/Logistic Manager, at Apapa, did steal conspired steal the sum of N68, 703, 480 million, property of NBC Limited, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 285 (7) of the criminal laws if Lagos state of Nigeria, 2012.”

The offences according to the prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, are contrary and punishable under sections 409 and 285(7) of the criminal lead of Lagos state, 2011.

The police men had informed the court that the accused and others now at large, committed the offences between June 2011 and June 2014, at Nigerian Bottling Company, in Iddo House, Lagos.

A police source also, revealed that the crime was revealed after a forensic audit was conducted on the company’s account, following revelation of fraud, the police source said the accused was handed over to the police by the company’s management for prosecution.

At the resumed hearing of the case on yesterday, the prosecutor, Inspector Odigie, informed the court that the matter was slated for mention, and he therefore urged the court for a trial date.