The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two dropouts, Oluwaseun Olatunji and Oladapo Fasan for allegedly stealing 1,730 cartons of fish.
Reports by Punch stated that the two dropouts from the National Open University (NOUN) and the Lagos State University (LASU), allegedly conspired with their company’s driver to steal tinned fish at the warehouse.
It was stated that a security man in the warehouse called the attention of the company’s management to the disappearance of 600 cartons and external auditors were invited to the company.
Olatunji said he dropped out of NOUN due to financial constraints. He added that the group made about N4m from the fraud, saying he was given N1.2m which he used to buy a car.
He said, “I have worked with the company for two years. I was employed as a sales representative and I was on a salary of N35,000 per month.
“The company’s driver, Kayode, called us and said we could make more money if we took extra cartons during our loading and we could sell those cartons and pocket the money. He said he would manipulate the invoice to cover up our tracks. We bought into the idea after we saw how he successfully manipulated the invoice.
“Our mode of operation is to take excess goods, which we sell to the company’s customers at the normal price. We then share the profit among ourselves.
“We made about N4m and the driver said since he was the originator, he would take the lion’s share. He took N1.5m and gave me N1.2m, which I used to buy a car. I am ashamed of myself.”
The second suspect during interrogation said that he dropped out of the Lagos State University in 200 level due to financial challenges. ”I was pushed into the act by poverty”, he added.
He said, “I was studying Business Administration at the Lagos State University, but I dropped out in 200 level due to financial challenges. ”It is not true we took 1,730 cartons of fish. We stole the cartons on two occasions.
“I was paid N1.2m from the proceed, which I used to buy a Honda car for N750,000. The rest I used to take care of my mum, who was sick.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos who confirmed the reports to the daily noted that investigations were ongoing.