KINGSLEY EBERE
A 53-year old housemaid, Fatolu Alice, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly stealing her Madam’s 18 pieces of clothes and different types of jewelries worth over N13.5m in her bedroom.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between January and August, 2024, at Adeleke Adedoyin Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where the victim, Aisha Abduraman employed her.
According to the Police, the suspect was employed by the complainant for domestic works including cleaning her bedroom and that was how she gained access to the Madam’s bedroom and started stealing the items.
However, her madam later discovered that the items were missing and summoned her to explain. But she was unable to explain whereas she was the only person that entered the bedroom for the months the items got missing.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ilasamaja Division and the suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the missing items.
After iinterrogation, the Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Isolo Magistrate Court for the alleged stealing of the items.
The charge read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Fatolu Alice, F, between the month of January 2024 to August 2024 at No 16A, Adeleke Adedoyin Street, Victoria Island, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, being a House help, did steal 18 pieces of Fabric Clothes Valued Three Million Naira Only (N3,000,000.00) and 18 types of different jewelries Valued Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N10,500,000.00), property of one Aisha Abduraman and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, she pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Solomon, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. I.O.Williams, granted her bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was further adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in correctional center at Kirikiri town pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.