Employee Jailed 18 Months for Betting N1m of Boss’s Money

An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State on Monday sentenced a 24-year-old Point of Sale (POS) attendant, Yusuf Olamilekan, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing N1 million from his employer to gamble.

Magistrate O.O. Fadairo, in her ruling, gave Olamilekan the option of paying a fine of N60,000 in lieu of serving the full prison term. In addition, the court ordered the convict to pay N1 million in restitution to the complainant, Emeka and Jane Company.

Fadairo said the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing Olamilekan’s guilt.

The convict, whose address was not disclosed, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.

Earlier, Prosecutor Inspector E.O. Adaraloye told the court that the offence occurred on April 7 at about 6 p.m. in the Sango-Ota area. According to Adaraloye, Olamilekan unlawfully accessed and withdrew N1 million from the company’s account without authorization and used the funds to place a bet, which he ultimately lost.

The offence contravenes Section 383 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.