The Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos has taken into custody an apprentice and a female accomplice for allegedly stealing construction materials valued at over ₦250 million.
According to police sources, the items were diverted from the apprentice’s employer and the proceeds used to finance gambling activities.
In a statement released on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects — identified as Ezekiel Taiwo and Rahman Airat — were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on multiple criminal charges.
“The PSFU has arraigned two suspects; Taiwo ‘M’ and Airat before the Federal High Court, Lagos,” the statement read, referring to charges that include conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion, embezzlement, and money laundering.
The investigation was prompted by a petition filed by businessman Jimoh Atofolaki. Atofolaki owns a building materials company and had placed Taiwo, his apprentice, in charge of the Osogbo branch. Over time, Atofolaki noticed that goods, especially cement and other construction materials, were disappearing. According to his petition, these missing materials were worth approximately ₦250 million.
Investigators from the fraud unit uncovered that Taiwo did not act alone. Police say he worked in collaboration with Rahman Airat to divert the materials, sell them, and then used most of the money on online betting platforms and gambling.
Ewhubare noted that both suspects were arrested following weeks of surveillance and forensic tracking of financial transactions. “Investigations revealed that Taiwo conspired with Airat to convert the goods and used the proceeds for gambling,” he said.
Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Okunade Nurat, also addressed the public, offering a word of caution to entrepreneurs and business owners. “We urge members of the public to be wary and always ensure that they carry out thorough background checks before employing individuals to take charge of their businesses,” Nurat noted.
