Two female workers in court for damaging company's car over unpaid salary

Two female employees of Vingo Beverages Food Ltd, who allegedly damaged the company’s car over unpaid salary, were on Friday charged before an Oshodi Magistrates' Court, Lagos.

The accused are Esther Augustine, 30, of Plot 1, Rebade Community, Odugbe in Ogun, and Beauty Edegwa, 37.

Both are being tried for conspiracy, breach of peace and wilful damage.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 15 at No.14A, Oshodi- Apapa Expressway, Lagos.



He said the accused with another other at large destroyed the windscreen of a vehicle belonging to Vingo Beverages Food Ltd.

``The accused, who were staff of the company, conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by maliciously damaging their company’s vehicle."

Olatunde said the accused were paid their salaries but their sister, Roseline Eniwo, still at large, was not paid because of some discrepancies in her returns as a marketer.

``The management asked Roseline to go and reconcile her returns with the sales manager before her salary could be paid.

``The marketing activities of various staff were reviewed and it was discovered that there were some discrepancies in Roseline’s returns.

``The accused insisted that their sister's salary must be paid before they could leave and so they held everybody hostage by blocking the entrance to the office with iron rods and heavy sticks.

"They threatened to burn down the office and kill the managing director if their sister's salary was not paid, "he said.

According to Olatunde, the accused also prevented the managing director from entering his car.

He added:``They (accused) wanted to hit the managing director with a rod, but she dodged it; instead, they grabbed the office assistant and beat him mercilessly.’’

Olatunde said the duo also destroyed the windscreen of the company’s Lexus jeep.

The offences, he said, contravened Sections 166, 348 and 410 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sections 348 and 410 prescribe a two-year jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each in the like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, adjourned the case till May 25 for mention.]