The Nigeria Police Force have arraigned a 31-year-old Chinese, Tu Menglei, before a Yaba Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos State, for allegedly stealing N72.7m from his employer.

Tu Menglei was charged with conspiracy and stealing before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rita Momah, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between June 2021 and February 26, 2022, at Alaba International Market, Ojo in Lagos State.

ASP Momah said that the defendant, employed as a manager with Perfect Diamond Industries Limited converted money realised from sale of furniture materials to his private use. According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene sections 411 and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Chief Magistrate Adedayo, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in like sum. She ordered that one of the sureties must be a worker at the Chinese Embassy, while the other must be a Chinese citizen employed in Nigeria. The Magistrate further ordered the defendant to deposit his passport with the court and adjourned till April 26 for mention.