A 27-year-old accountant, Oke Peter, has been arraigned before a Badagry Chief Magistrates' Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N4.5 million from his employer, Mega Mart Mall Ltd. Peter pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Edet Ekpo, the defendant committed the offense on September 5 at the company's premises in the Mowo area of Badagry. The alleged fraud involved sales capital under Peter's supervision, belonging to the company's manager, Mr. David Uniugbe.

The offense is said to contravene Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015, which stipulates a one-year jail term for stealing from one's employer. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Nurudeen Layeni, granted Peter bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties, one of whom must be a community leader. The case was adjourned until October 10 for mention.