A secretary in charge of Alaba Meta Farms Limited in the Badagry area of Lagos State, has been brought before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for alleged stealing and forgery.

It was learnt that the secretary, Oluwakemi Zipe, between January 2011 and December 2015, collected over N3.5m rent from 28 occupants of a complex owned by the firm and issued fake receipts to them.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the 30-year-old woman, rather than remit the sum to the company’s account, diverted it to her personal use.

Her ploy was reportedly exposed in January 2015 when the account of the company was audited and the General Manager of the company, Adewale Timothy, approached seven of the tenants for failing to pay their rents. It was then discovered that they had paid N1.3m to the secretary.

One of the tenants, Arinze Obi, also reportedly paid N126,000 to Zipe without being given a receipt.

Our correspondent gathered that the GM reported the incident at the Layeni Police Station and Zipe was arrested.

A prosecutor, Olusoji Ojaokomo, brought her before the magistrate, Mr. P.A. Adekomaya on five counts bordering on stealing and forgery.

The charges read in part, “That you, Oluwakemi Zipe, between the months of January 2011 and December 2011 at KM5, Lagos Badagry Expressway in the Apapa Magisterial District, did steal N563,115 property of Alaba Meta Farms Ltd.

“That you, between March 2012 and December 2012 did steal N410,000 property of Alaba Meta Farms Ltd.

“That you, between the month of April 2013 and December 2013 did steal the sum of N1,543,550 property of Alaba Meta Farms Ltd.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, which according to the police, are punishable under sections 285, 285 (7) and 363 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

She was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adekomaya added that the sureties must provide to the court evidence of means of livelihood, tax payment paid to Lagos State and their residential address(es).