By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS, NIGERIA – A disturbing labor dispute has emerged involving Zenith Carex International Limited, where the Managing Director and CEO, Adelana Olamilekan, stands accused of orchestrating the arrest and imprisonment of a former employee, Samson Adetunji.
The conflict allegedly stems from a demand for several months of unpaid salaries, leading to a controversial theft charge that has seen the worker remanded in custody.
Adetunji, who joined the logistics firm in July 2025 as an operations officer, was reportedly tasked with supervising dispatch riders using a company vehicle.
However, sources familiar with the matter reveal that the company struggled with consistent salary payments, leaving many staff members stranded. By October 2025, the financial strain reportedly forced several employees to stop working, including Adetunji, who informed the management he could no longer afford transportation to the office.
The Withheld Vehicle and Allegations of Theft
In a bid to secure his outstanding wages, Adetunji reportedly retained the company’s Renault Logan sedan as leverage. Despite multiple assurances from the firm, the salaries remained unpaid.
The situation took a legal turn in January 2026 when operatives from the Zone 2 Police Command arrested Adetunji on allegations of theft. While he was initially granted bail and the vehicle was recovered by the company, the CEO allegedly escalated the matter by demanding N5 million for purported damages to the car.
According to reports obtained by SaharaReporters, the former employee was later lured to a police station under the guise of a settlement meeting.
Instead of a resolution, he was swiftly arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate Court on charges of unlawful seizure and intentional conversion of the vehicle, valued at N10 million. The charges fall under Sections 280 and 340 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Remand at Ikoyi Correctional Centre
The legal proceedings have resulted in Adetunji being held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre since Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
The charge sheet, marked NO/2026, alleges that the defendant unlawfully tampered with and converted the property of Zenith Carex International Limited for personal use. Family and supporters of the embattled worker, however, maintain that the charges are a retaliatory measure designed to silence his legitimate claim for earned wages.
When approached for a statement regarding these heavy allegations, CEO Adelana Olamilekan declined immediate comment, requesting that inquiries be sent via the company’s official email.
As of the time of publication, neither Olamilekan nor Zenith Carex International Limited has provided a formal response to the claims of malicious prosecution and wage theft.