Lagos Cook Sunday remanded over alleged N50m Jewellery theft

By Paul Iyoghojie

A 45-year-old cook, Raphael Sunday, has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility over the alleged theft of his employer’s jewellery valued at N50 million.

Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Lagos, arrested Sunday, a Beninoise national, and arraigned him before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court sitting at Tinubu, Lagos Island, on a two-count charge bordering on stealing.

Police alleged that the defendant committed the offence between April 18 and 25, 2025, at Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he resided with his employer, Kikolomo Mesubi, as her cook.

According to the prosecution, the complainant had travelled abroad, leaving the defendant at home on trust.

During her absence, Sunday allegedly used a spare key to gain access to her room and stole jewellery said to be worth N50 million.

The police further alleged that the defendant took the items to the Ikotun area of Lagos, where he reportedly sold them for N2 million before fleeing to the Benin Republic.

The prosecution said the theft was discovered when the complainant returned from her trip and found her room tampered with, the jewellery missing and the cook nowhere to be found. His phone line was also said to be unreachable.

Following a petition to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, now a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, a directive was reportedly issued to track down the suspect.

Police said a team subsequently traced and arrested Sunday at a hideout in the Badagry area of Lagos.

The prosecutor, Inspector Duru Adekunle, told the court that the alleged offences contravened Sections 287(7) and 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Sunday, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, Barrister Augustine Okeh, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, arguing that the defendant had served his employer for 10 years without complaint prior to the allegation and would not abscond if released.

Chief Magistrate O.O. Olatunji granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till April 29, 2026, for commencement of trial, while the court ordered that the defendant remain in custody at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions.