A teenage apprentice, Prince Okemgbo, who allegedly stole his master’s N958,000 was on Tuesday docked in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The police charged Okemgbo, 15, residing at Igando area of Lagos, with stealing.
The Prosecution Counsel, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov. 21 at Cele Close, Odo Osan, Egan Igando, Lagos.
She said the defendant, an apprentice under one Mr Hycent Uche – the complainant, had suddenly absconded from the shop with the amount.
“He broke the safe in the shop and made away with the sum of N958,000 being sales made for the week that his master was supposed to take to the bank the next day.
“He ran away to the village without allowing anyone to know of his movement,” Ajayi said.
The offence, she said, contravened section 287 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 (7) provides seven years imprisonment for servants stealing from their masters.
Magistrate Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Kubeinje said one of the sureties must be a blood relative.
She adjourned the case until Dec. 19 for mention (NAN)