18-Year Old Arraigned In Court For Allegedly Stealing N30m Jewelries In Popular Lagos Estate

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned an 18-year-old girl, Joy Oreoluwa Falokun, before the Lagos Magisterial District for allegedly attempting to steal luxury jewelries valued at Thirty Million Naira in a highbrow estate in Lagos State.

The defendant was brought before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu by the Commissioner of Police following her arrest by operatives of the State Intelligence Department, SID, Panti-Yaba, Lagos. The prosecution of the matter was led by SP Phillip Ademigbuji.

According to Charge No. 42/9/24/2026, a copy of which was obtained by P.M.EXPRESS, the incident allegedly occurred on the 14th and 15th of April, 2026 at about 10am in Isheri North GRA area of Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District. The Police slammed a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful entry with intent to commit felony, attempted stealing and stealing against the defendant.

The charge sheet stated that Joy Oreoluwa Falokun and others still at large, on the said date, time and place, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: stealing, an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. It was further alleged that the defendant was found in the dwelling house and bedroom of one Daniel Samuel, searching through his wardrobe with intent to commit a felony, to wit: stealing a Hublot wristwatch and an 18-karat gold necklace, both valued at approximately N30,000,000.00, Thirty Million Naira, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 388 sub 1 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Police also alleged that the defendant attempted to steal the said Hublot wristwatch and 18-karat gold necklace valued at approximately N30,000,000.00, property of Daniel Samuel, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 407 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. In the fourth count, the Police alleged that the defendant did steal the wristwatch and necklace valued at N30,000,000.00, property of the complainant, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

When the charge was read to her in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Following her not guilty plea, the prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, asked the court for a date for trial and requested that the defendant be remanded in custody pending trial.

Counsel to the defendant however, applied for her bail on liberal terms, assuring the court that she would not jump bail and would be available for trial. In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu granted bail to the defendant with two sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center in Kirikiri town pending the perfection of her bail conditions. She directed that the case file be duplicated and a copy sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The Isheri North GRA, where the alleged offence was said to have taken place, is one of the exclusive estates in Lagos State, inhabited by high-net-worth individuals, many of whom keep luxury watches and gold jewelry estimated in millions of Naira. Security experts have advised residents of such estates to always conduct thorough background checks on domestic workers and limit access of visitors to private bedrooms and wardrobes where valuables are kept.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.