Marketer arraigned for N2m fraud in Kwara

A marketer of CBT software, Tope Sulyman, 36 of No. 4 Igbaja Adewole Ilorin, Kwara state, who allegedly defrauded an educational institute, Easiprep Nigeria Limited, of the sum of N2,022,400.00, has been arraigned before an Ilorin chief magistrate court.

The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation, contrary to Sections 312 and 309 of the Penal Code Law respectively.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that police arrested the accused following a petition to the commissioner of Police, Kwara state command, Ilorin by the management of the educational institute that the accused diverted a sum of N2,022,400 belonging to the company to his personal use.

The petition, which said that the accused was employed by the petitioner in 2010 based on commission as a marketer, added that the accused was issued a company identification card and company receipt to go round schools and supply the company products.

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It was also gathered that the company, in 2016, discovered that the accused had fraudulently withheld and diverted the sum of N2,022,400 to his personal use when it carried out a reconciliation of accounts and internal audit.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that during the course of the investigation conducted at the State Intelligence Bureau, Police headquarters, Ilorin, the accused admitted to having misappropriated the sum of N275,000:00.

The prosecutor, Inspector Serifat Ishiaq, informed the court that the offences against the accused person were not ordinarily bailable and therefore urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Barrister I.K. Iyanda, prayed the court to admit the accused to bail since he had been enjoying police bail and he had not abused same.

The trial judge, Mrs S.B. Olanipekun, agreed with the submission of the defence and released the accused on bail at the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in like sum with one of the sureties having landed property with a Certificate of Occupancy and within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned till May 10, 2018, for further mention.