Two employees of Uyi Technical Nigeria Limited, Mary Theophilus and Helen Ighodaro, have been re-arraigned before the Edo State Criminal Court 1, Benin City, over an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent false accounting.
The defendants were re-arraigned before Hon. Justice Ireleh-Ifijeh following an amended charge filed in Charge No. B/CD/283C/2025/A, between the State and Mary Theophilus and Helen Ighodaro.
The amended information contains nine counts, covering alleged offences said to have occurred between 2011 and October 31, 2024, at Uyi Technical Nigeria Limited, Mission Road, Benin City.
According to the charge, the prosecution alleges that the defendants, while working as employees of the company, conspired to divert money belonging to the firm through alleged unauthorised inflation of prices, the use of private Point of Sale terminals and personal bank accounts to receive customers’ payments, as well as the alleged alteration or falsification of sales records, receipts and invoices.
Alleged Millions Diverted
In Count Three, the prosecution alleges that Mary Theophilus fraudulently converted N2.18 million belonging to the company to her personal use between January 2011 and November 2, 2022.
A further allegation contained in Count Four states that she converted N10.1853 million between November 3, 2022, and October 31, 2024, allegedly being proceeds from sales received through private POS terminals and a personal bank account rather than the company’s authorised payment channels.
The charge therefore places the two alleged amounts involving Theophilus at N12.3653 million.
For Helen Ighodaro, Count Five alleges that she fraudulently converted N485,000 belonging to the company between January 2011 and November 2, 2022.
Count Six further alleges that she converted N909,900 between November 3, 2022, and October 31, 2024, in proceeds allegedly received from customers in the course of her employment.
The document contains a discrepancy in words and figures in Count Six, where the figure stated numerically is N909,900, while the amount written out in words reads N893,900. The court record should therefore be relied upon for the definitive figure.
Alleged Falsification of Company Records
The amended charge also contains allegations of fraudulent false accounting.
Counts Seven and Eight allege that Mary Theophilus and Helen Ighodaro respectively altered, falsified or were privy to the making of false entries in the company’s receipts, invoices, sales books and other accounting records.
The prosecution alleges that the records were manipulated by recording amounts different from those actually received from customers and by failing to disclose proceeds allegedly collected through private POS terminals.
Count Nine further alleges that both defendants, between November 3, 2022, and October 31, 2024, altered or were privy to false entries in the company’s financial records, allegedly concealing the true proceeds of sales.
Defendants Retain Bail
Following their re-arraignment on the amended charge, the defendants were admitted to their former bail conditions.
The prosecution is led by Emmanuel Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN, alongside Douglas Ogbankwa, Esq. and other counsel.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 5, 2026, for further proceedings, according to the court record provided.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
