A 21-year old Nigerian girl from Calabar, Cross River State, employed as housemaid has absconded with her employer’s jewellery valued at N40 million just 11 days after she secured the job.
The incident happened at HFP Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
When all efforts to locate the fleeing suspect Miss Deborah Peter a.ka. Alice Ikpam proved futile, her guarantor, Godbless Dul, Solomon Emoty, and Abam Johnson Ofem were arrested by the police.
Other suspects arrested in connection with the incident were Etim Ewa and Victor Ewa.
They were arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate’s court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The police at Dolphin Estate Division, Ikoyi, Lagos alleged that the accused were arrested following complaints by Mrs. Ogunsade that her maid stole her jewellery valued at N40 million. She further stated that on 7 December, 2012, the day of the incident, she left her maid at home and before her return, Deborah was no where to be found.
She later discovered that Deborah had ransacked her apartment and stole her jewellery.
She claimed she suspected Deborah’s guarantors to have connived with her to steal the precious stones.
The police arrested the guarantors, and after investigation by ASP Bassey Abraham, they were charged to court for stealing, an offence, the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo said, contravene section 409 of the criminal law of Lagos state government of Nigeria, 2011.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges, and magistrate Mrs. Ogunsanya admitted them on bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum who must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos state government.
She adjourned the matter till 20 February, 2013 for mention.
All the defendants were moved to Ikoyi prison pending when they could perfect their bail conditions.
