Samuel Meyiwa, a 26-year-old driver employed by Freedom Pure Water Company in Bariga, Lagos, has been brought before the Yaba Magistrate’s Court on charges of allegedly using his employer’s funds for gambling.
Meyiwa who was arraigned on Thursday, as gathered by Quest Times, started working for the company in March as a sachet water truck driver, and reportedly diverted a portion of his daily sales earnings to engage in gambling activities at an undisclosed centre without his employer’s knowledge.
The situation escalated when, in October, he failed to remit the sum of N88,000 from his sachet water sales, claiming that customers owed him money. This pattern continued, causing concern for his employer.
In a significant incident in November, Meyiwa took off with sachet water worth N300,000, delivered the goods, but instead of accounting for the sales, he used the money to gamble. After incurring losses, he absconded.
Also, efforts to locate him were unsuccessful until he was spotted working at another company, leading to his arrest by the police.
During the court session presided over by Magistrate A.O Salawu, the prosecutor, Oriabure, informed the court that Meyiwa committed the offense between March and November 2023. The charge against him cited a violation of Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Samuel Meyiwa, sometime March to November 2023 at Bariga in the Yaba Magisterial District did steal the sum of three hundred thousand naira cash from Freedom Pure Water Company situated at No 10 NG Okusanya street off Adebayo Road, Bariga, where you were employed as a driver and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015,” the charge read.
Meyiwa pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge, and in response, the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N100,000, requiring two responsible sureties. The case is set for trial on January 25, 2024.