By Ken Chiwendu
A salesgirl, Rashida Zubairu, on Thursday appeared in an Upper Area Court, Karu, Abuja on Thursday for allegedly misappropriating and swindling employer of N25 million.
The defendant is facing a three-count charge on criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal misappropriation.
The Prosecution Counsel, Ade Adeyanju, told the court that the defendant was employed as a salesgirl at a shop located at 3, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and dishonestly lured customers to pay for goods into her personal account.
In the process, he said that the defendant also caused the complainant wrongful loss by inflating the prices of goods and appropriating the fraudulently obtained excess to her own use.
The prosecutor said that the defendant illegally obtained proceed of the crime to open and operate several bank accounts, thereby causing the complainant to suffer financial loss amounting to N25 million.
Adeyanju said that police investigation was still ongoing as the accomplice who lived in Lagos was yet to be arrested.
According to him, the offences contravene the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.
The Judge, Hassan Mohammed, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties in like sum.
Mohammed said that the first surety must be a level 15 officer in the civil service, an Assistant Director and his first appointment and last promotion letter should be kept in the court.
The Judge also said the second surety must possess a plot of land, the addresses of the sureties must be verified and they must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
He, thereafter, adjourned the case until December 22 for further hearing.
