Two domestic
servants have been arrested after a Close Circuit Television (CCTV) caught them
fleeing their employer’s residence with jewelry worth N243million.
The two
suspects, Alex Obinyan (39), cleaner and Ayuba Samson (29), car washer, were
arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Ikeja, Lagos State
Police Command, after eight exhaustive days of chasing them from Lekki in Lagos
to Maduiguiri in Borno State.
The suspects
were said to have stolen a Cuban Diamond neck chain, a Frank Muller and Rolex
wrist watches worth N243 million belonging to their employer, a popular
celebrity who wishes to remain anonymous. According to the police, the
celebrity has vast investment in Lekki and Lagos.
The
suspects, who were captured on CCTV leaving the celebrity’s residence have
confessed to stealing the Cuban Diamond Chain valued at N54 million, a Frank
Moller Wrist watch worth N140 million and a Rolex wrist watch worth N49
million.
The suspects
were arrested after they had sold the jewellery for N6million and N4million respectively
in Lagos and Abuja.
One of the
suspects, Obinyan, has been working with the celebrity for over eight years at
his Lekki residence. The second suspect, Ayuba, started working at the
celebrity’s residence just two months ago after returning from Chibok, his home
town. They earned N80, 000 and N50, 000 monthly.
According to
Obinyan, they sold the Cuban Diamond Chain at Eti-Osa, Lagos, for N6million,
while the Frank Muller wristwatch was sold in Abuja for N4million.
Obinyan said:
“I have been working with him (celebrity) in Lekki for over eight years. I’m
used to moving those valuables around the house wherever I find them in his
car. I have never thought of stealing them. When Samson came, he saw me with
the gold chain laced with diamonds; he convinced me that we could make a
fortune if we steal it. Within two months of his stay, we planned to steal
these things.”
He further
stated: “My boss was in the sitting room. We stole the chain along with a Frank
Muller wristwatch and a Rolex wristwatch. Before escaping, we already got a
buyer for the chain. We sold the Cuban Diamond chain in Eti-Osa for N6 million.
The following day, we escaped to Abuja where we bought a Toyota Corolla. We
sold the Frank Muller watch in Abuja for N4million to raise more money for our
escape to Borno State, where we intended to start new lives and businesses.”
Obinya in
his letter to the celebrity informing him of his departure reads in parts: “…I
know you will be shock over why I’m writing you, but the truth is that I have
come to notice that you are not a person that someone can rely on. I have been
patient enough to see if you could help me, but you keep on promising me, up
till now. To cut the story short, I have decided to stop working for you. You
have to bear with me. I have gone for good, because I cannot continue to work
for a person that doesn’t care about me and doesn’t value me.”
The suspects
and the buyers of the jewelry were brought to RRS headquarters, by the Decoy
Team of the agency in an unbranded vehicle after eight days investigative
activities to Abuja and Borno State.
The suspects
were arrested in Maiduguri in their two rooms and parlour, which they had
rented. Also arrested with them were the buyers of the Cuban Diamond chain,
Haruna Abdullahi and that of the Frank Muller’s wristwatch, Abubakar Buhari.
Recovered
from the suspects were a Rolex watch, two brand new tricycles, a Toyota Corolla
car and the sum of $2200.
The suspects
have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID),
Panti, Yaba for further investigations. The RSS commander, a Deputy
Commissioner of Police (DCP), Olatunji Disu, urged Lagosians to always carry
out background checks of all prospective workers before employing them.
No comments:
Post a Comment