How cleaner Akamba carted away employer’s N75m jewelry – Police
Lagos Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade
Published By: Isa Isawade
Paul Iyoghojie
The Police at the Ikoyi division of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a cleaner, Chjnemerem Akamba, 23, for allegedly stealing his employer’s box of jewelry valued at $50,000 equivalent to N75,000,000.
Also arrested alongside Akamba for the offence was his alleged accomplice and receiver of stolen property, Mahmood Aliyu, 35.
Police said that the cleaner allegedly stole the box of jewelry when his employer, Mrs Owamede left him at home on trust and travelled and he went to sell the items to his accomplice and fled.
Some of the stolen jewelry according to the Police include one diamond, gold engagement ring, one gold wedding band; one Cartier West watch; five heavy golden bands; one gold white earring set, one gold and platinum purple pair; one Versace gold and others all valued at $50,000 equivalent to N75m.
Police said that Akamba’s employer came back from her trip to discover that her box of jewelry had disappeared and the cleaner was nowhere to be found.
She also tried to reach Akamba on phone without success.
Mrs Owamede quickly reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ikoyi division, CSP Adedara Kehinde who swiftly directed his crack detectives to fish out the fleeing suspect.
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The Police team arrested the cleaner at a hideout in Lagos through intelligence gathering and tracking.
During investigation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and said that he sold the stolen jewelry to Aliyu and he led the Police to arrest Aliyu.
After the investigation by CPL Balogun Michael and his team, the duo were charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island, Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on stealing and receiving stolen property.
Police Counsel, Ben Ekundayo told the Court in the charge Marked TA/69/2024 that the defendants committed the offence in July 2024 at George Street, Ikoyi Lagos.
Ekundayo informed the Court that the first defendant betrayed the trust his employer reposed in him as her cleaner, stole her box of jewelry valued at $50,000 equivalent to N75m and sold the items to the second defendant and escaped before he was tracked and arrested at a hideout.
He said the offences, the defendants committed were punishable under sections 411, 307 and 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate, M.A Owunmi granted them N2m bail each with two sureties each in like sum.
Owunmi adjourned the case and ordered that the defendants be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till they perfected the bail conditions.
