CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 42-year-old woman, Elizabeth Usen Effiong, was arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos over allegations of stealing gold jewelries valued at about N300 million.
The defendant appeared before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu on a one-count charge of theft. The prosecution, led by SP Philip Ademigbuji, alleged that Elizabeth Usen Effiong committed the offence on June 12, 2026 at about 4:00pm at No: 4B, Alhaji Jimo Street, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, in the Ikeja Magisterial District.
According to the charge sheet, the Police stated:
“That you, Elizabeth Usen Effiong ‘F’ on the 12th day of June, 2026 at about 1600hrs at No: 4B, Alhaji Jimo Street, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did steal gold jewelries valued about Three Hundred Million Naira (N300,000,000.00) property of one Irene Johnson ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
The prosecution told the court that the matter was investigated by Insp Ibrahim Mamman of Area F Police Command, Ikeja, and that the case file had received DPP’s approval from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
When the charge was read to her, the defendant did not take a plea.
After listening to the prosecution, Magistrate Kusanu granted the defendant bail with two sureties.
The magistrate gave bail conditions that the two sureties must be taxpayers in Lagos State and must provide evidence of tax payment for the last three years. The court registrar is also to verify the addresses of the defendant and the sureties. In addition, the defendant and sureties are to deposit valid means of identification and passport photographs.
Magistrate Kusanu ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.
Section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State defines theft, while Section 287 prescribes the punishment for the offence.
The alleged theft involved gold jewelries said to be valued at N300,000,000.00 and described as property of Irene Johnson.
The matter was adjourned for mention to allow the defendant to perfect her bail conditions and for the prosecution to serve proof of evidence on the defence.