8th February, 2023
Paul Iyoghojie
The Police at the Ikoyi Division of the Lagos State Police Command, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria have arrested a Benin Republic national and a cook, Raphael Hoda, 41, and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing his employer’s Jewelry valued at N90,000,000.
Police alleged that the defendant allegedly entered his employer’s bedroom to steal the pieces of jewelry such as a Rolex wristwatch, four sets of diamond earrings, three gold necklaces with pendants, and ten gold bangles, all valued at N90m when his employer, Mrs Esosa Anenih left him at home on trust.
Police further alleged that following the incident, the complainant reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ikoyi Division, Lagos who directed his men to arrest the defendant.
The defendant, a resident of the Eleganza Street area of Sango-Ota, Ogun State was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing.
Police Prosecuting Counsel, Reuben Solomon informed the Court that the defendant committed the offence between December 2022 and January 2023 at Ondo Street, Osbourne estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Solomon told the Court that the defendant betrayed the trust his employer reposed in him as a cook and stole her pieces of jewelry valued at N90m and sold the items off.
He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sessions 411, 307(b) and 287(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Magistrate Mr A.O Alogba granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Alogba adjourned the case till 20 March 2023 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.