PZ storekeeper arraigned for alleged N8.5 million fraud

Man duped his employers

A storekeeper with PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Yola depot, Madu Garba, was on Monday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Yola, Adamawa State, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for defrauding the company of N8.5 million.

Mr. Garba’s arraignment on a two-count charge of defrauding the company through fictitious invoicing followed a petition by PZ.

The EFCC investigation revealed that Mr. Garba used invoices for two distributors, Yalisco Electrical Services and Gassol and Sons Limited, to cover up some missing goods in PZ Cussons warehouse where he is storekeeper, thereby defrauding his employers.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Madu Garba, being a store keeper at PZ Cussons Nigeria Limited, sometime in September 2009 in Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this court, Federal High Court of Nigeria, did take several electronic goods worth N4,027,090 by fraudulently using the account of Yalisco Electrical Services Limited, a customer, without his knowledge, and converted the goods for your own use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 383 (1)of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the same Act.”

Mr. Garba pleaded not guilty to the charge, which prompted the prosecution counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, to ask for commencement of trial.

The court, presided by Bilikisu Aliyu, remanded the accused person in prison till November 21 when trial would commence.