A 19-year-old point-of-sale (POS) operator, Emenike Baberechi Martha, is at the center of a high-profile fraud case after allegedly diverting N20 million belonging to her employer in a calculated financial scheme that stunned residents of Lagos.
Martha, who worked for daily thrift manager Onyebuchi Alajekwu, is accused of conspiring with two accomplices — Tochukwu Arum, 30, and Ifeanyi Asomugua, 28 — to siphon customer contributions meant to be deposited via POS transactions.
The trio reportedly disappeared after the money went missing, prompting Alajekwu to file a complaint with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Area ‘E’ Festac, Ebruajaa Nwanchukwu. A swift investigation led to the arrest of the suspects at a location in Lagos where they had allegedly been hiding.
Prosecutors told the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Tinubu, that Martha deliberately rerouted the daily contributions into accounts linked to Arum and Asomugua, instead of depositing them with her employer. The suspects were also accused of issuing threats to harm Alajekwu should he expose the fraud.
Inspector Gbenga Salami, the prosecuting officer, presented the court with a four-count charge, including conspiracy, stealing, fraud, and threat to life — violations of Sections 411, 309(1), 56(1)(A), and 165D of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
Despite the weight of the allegations, the three defendants pleaded not guilty. Chief Magistrate O.O. Olatunji granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties required in like sum.
Pending their ability to meet bail conditions, Martha and her co-accused have been remanded at Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres respectively.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing, with legal observers closely watching developments in what is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about fraud cases in Lagos this year.
