An 18 year old house-help has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos, for allegedly stealing her employer’s gold jewelry and other items worth N5.5m.
The suspect identified as Mercy Odita claimed that she gave the stolen items to one Peter and an elderly man yet to be identified; she further said she was forced into carrying out the act.
It was gathered that the suspect who works for Mrs. Ngozi Okeke, in a house on Road 8, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah area of Lagos, committed the crime on February 10, 2015.
The house-help, it was learnt met two strangers at the market the previous day who advised her to break into her employer’s apartment and do away with the said items.
On the day of the incident, Okeke, the suspects boss was away to visit her sick mother.
The accused it was gathered, had earlier stolen the key to her employer’s bedroom with which she used to enter and stole the accessories belonging to Okeke.
The stolen items include; necklaces, wristwatches and rings which she delivered to the said men at an agreed location. Also she gave them the sum of N2, 000 given to her by Okeke to buy some items.
Odita reported herself to the Maroko Police Station after delivering the stolen items to the men who are yet to be found.
The accused was charged by Mrs. A. T. Omoyele of the Lagos Magistrate in Lagos Island on a two count charge of theft.
The charge sheet reads, “That you Mercy Odita, and others now at large, on February 10, 2015, at about 9am on Road 8, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah, did steal gold jewellery valued at N5,523,000, property of one Ngozi Okeke and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 (7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”
She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties, who must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Omoyele however adjourned the case till March 23, 2015.
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