Nelly Kalu, a 28-year-old human resources personnel, appeared before Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday for allegedly defrauding five job seekers of N1.32 million on the pretext of securing jobs for them.

The defendant, whose residential address was not given, is facing a six-count bordering on stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

Sgt. Adetutu Sanusi, the Police Prosecutor, said the defendant allegedly obtained N1.32 million from the complainants: Mr Temitayo Olorunsola, Friday Agada, Oluwaseun Adeshola, Babatunde Ayoola and Henry Agboge with an assurance of getting them jobs at Honeywell Flower Mill, a representation he knew to be false.

Sanusi told the court that the defendant committed the offences at various times on May 30, 2015, April 4, 2018, May 2, 2018, and May 2019 at Honeywell Flour Mill Ltd in Ikeja.

She said the defendant, who was a former human resource officer in a recruiting firm, NL Outsourcing Ltd, stole the sum of N1.32 million from the complainants after failing to get them jobs at Honeywell Flour Mill Ltd.

The alleged offences violated Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, according to her.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

CEOAFRICA gathered that stealing attracts three years jail term while obtaining money under false pretenses attracts 15 years imprisonment for any convicted offender.

Mrs Emeka Opara, the Chief Magistrate, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Mrs Emeka ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.