Mike Oluwole, the former boss of 26-year-old photographer Nicholas Peter, has addressed the recent social media uproar following Peter's detention in Keffi Correctional Centre after resigning via text message. Oluwole spoke to Punch on September 2.
He explained that Nicholas had come to his office to sell a camera lens, which Oluwole later discovered was allegedly stolen. "When he tried to sell me the lens, I inquired about its owner. He claimed it belonged to a friend, and I had him sign a document confirming the sale. I mentioned my need for a skilled photographer and photo editor, and he expressed interest. After a series of photography tests, which he excelled in, I hired him on a six-month probation with a monthly salary of N70,000," Oluwole said.
However, he noted that Nicholas often made financial demands. His company has a scheme called "I Owe You (IOU)" to assist staff with financial issues until payday, but Nicholas frequently defaulted on repayments and asked for extensions.
When Nicholas resigned via text, Oluwole questioned the appropriateness of this method. Nicholas then insulted him and offered unsolicited advice on management.
Oluwole later discovered that an office phone was missing and, after reviewing CCTV footage, saw that Nicholas had returned to the office the day before his resignation, disconnected the office camera, and reconnected it while Oluwole was away. Unfazed by the potential damage to his business, Oluwole reported Nicholas to the police, resulting in his arrest.