Tolanibaj said she hired the employee, identified as Precious Akiemi Debora, through a recruiting agency in April to work as an executive assistant at her DJ Academy.
According to her, the employee was responsible for supervising students, buying refreshments, recording behind-the-scenes content and ensuring the academy ran smoothly when she was unavailable.
Tolanibaj said she initially considered Precious hardworking and trustworthy, but later began noticing several red flags.
She said about three weeks into the woman’s employment, the recruiting agency asked her to put the employee’s salary on hold because her background check and reference form had not been completed.
However, Tolanibaj said she decided to give her another chance because she had already grown fond of her and believed she was hardworking.
The DJ also said she later noticed that the employee allegedly inflated prices for items needed at the academy.
According to Tolanibaj, she gave the employee more than ₦6 million to purchase four DJ controllers ahead of the academy’s programme.
She said the employee sent her bills and receipts and kept her updated on the purchases, leaving her with no immediate reason to suspect wrongdoing.
However, during the academy’s graduation week, Tolanibaj said her lead instructor contacted her to complain that the academy had not had DJ controllers for about three weeks.
“I said, ‘Excuse me?’ Precious took three of the controllers from the academy because she said I told her to upgrade all the equipment,” she recounted.
Tolanibaj said she immediately contacted Precious on Wednesday, July 29, asking where the missing controllers were.
According to her, the employee initially claimed that the equipment was still at the academy.
She said she subsequently organised a group call involving two instructors, during which the lead instructor confronted Precious and accused her of lying.
Tolanibaj said Precious then claimed that the controllers were faulty and that she had taken them away because of the alleged fault.
The instructor, however, reportedly disputed the claim, insisting that the equipment was not faulty and that Precious had told them Tolanibaj instructed her to remove the controllers.
Tolanibaj said Precious eventually admitted that the controllers were at her house, claiming she had been sick and did not have money for transportation.
The DJ said the controllers were worth millions of naira and immediately terminated the employee’s employment after the discovery.
“I immediately fired her. I said, ‘You know what? You are hereby terminated.’ I fired her right there and then because I’m like, ‘You’re acting like a thief,’” she said.
Tolanibaj, who became emotional while recounting the incident, said the experience had made her realise that she had become too trusting of people.
“It’s so freaking hurtful, because you can’t be too kind to people,” she said.
She also shared the experience as a warning to other business owners, urging them to carry out proper background checks and remain vigilant when hiring employees.
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