Samuel Meyiwa, a 26-year-old man, appeared before the Yaba Magistrate’s Court, facing allegations of using his employer’s money for gambling activities.
The defendant faced a charge of theft brought against him by the Lagos State Police Command and was arraigned on Thursday before Magistrate A.O Salawu.
Reports from The Punch revealed that Meyiwa was hired in March as a driver selling sachet water with a truck for the Freedom Pure Water Company in Bariga. Allegedly, he had been diverting part of the money generated from daily sales for gambling purposes at an undisclosed betting center, without his employer’s knowledge.
During October, Meyiwa reportedly sold sachet water worth N88,000 but failed to remit the money, claiming that customers owed him—an excuse that gradually became a pattern, according to the complainant.
However, in November, Meyiwa purportedly drove off with sachet water worth N300,000, delivered the goods, yet misused the funds by gambling. Subsequently, after losing the money in bets, he absconded.
Despite multiple attempts to contact him, Meyiwa remained unreachable until he was spotted working at another company, leading to his arrest by the police.
According to Oriabure, the prosecuting officer, the defendant committed the offence between March and November 2023 at Okusanya Street, off Adebayo Road, Bariga, violating Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The charge detailed the allegation against Meyiwa, accusing him of stealing cash from the Freedom Pure Water Company’s premises where he worked as a driver.
Pleading not guilty, Meyiwa was granted bail by the magistrate in the sum of N100,000, requiring two responsible sureties of equal sum each.
The case was adjourned until January 25, 2024, for further trial.
