Cook Allegedly Steals Employer’s N80m, Sent To Prison

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

Operatives of the Financial Malpractices Investigation Unit, FMIU of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos have arrested a cook, Michael Elijah, 40, and dragged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing the sum of N80 million belonging to his employer, Omonigho Akinsanya.

Police said that the defendant allegedly entered her employer’s apartment with another key after she left him at home on trust to a nearby supermarket and used a kitchen knife to open the two briefcases the complainant kept the money, emptied the money into two Ghana must go bags and fled to his home town in Akwa Ibom State.

Police alleged that when the complainant returned home to discover the alleged theft, she observed the cook was nowhere to be found while his phone was no longer going, she swiftly petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP who referred the case to his crack team at the FMIU Lekki, Lagos for detailed investigation.

Following the referral, the FMIU team swung into action and tracked the defendant to Akwa Ibom State, arrested and brought him back to Lagos.

After investigation by a team of detectives led by Mr. Akeem Odunuga, the defendant was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Police counsel, Ben Ekundayo informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on 19 December, 2024 at Ikoyi, Lagos where the defendant lived with the complainant.

Ekundayo told the Court that the defendant gain entry into his employer’s apartment with another key to steal the N80 million and escaped to his village in Akwa Ibom State where he was arrested and brought back to Lagos.

He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate, M. Owunmi granted him N5 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Owunmi adjourned the case till 2 February, 2025 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.