Court arraigns men for theft, receipt of N11m worth of gold jewelry

Two men, Richard Nwachukwu, 31, and Abdullahi Anefi, 30, on Monday, appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft and receipt of N11 million worth of gold jewelry.

While Nwachukwu, a security guard, resides in Oluwatobi street, Ikorodu, Lagos, Anefi, a jewelry seller, who is said to be his accomplice, lives at Araromi street, Ogudu, Ojota, Lagos.

The first defendant is standing trial for conspiracy and stealing, while the second is being tried for conspiracy and receipt of stolen property.

The Prosecutor, Insp Bassey Sunday, told the court that a security company had posted the first defendant to the complainant, Mrs Rosanna Eso’s residence sometime in 2022, on her request.

He said that the complainant’s maid, sometime in July, did inform her that the first defendant had asked her to “leave mama’s room door open and put something inside her food.

“This made the complainant to terminate Nwachukwu’s employment.

“Some days after he (Nwachukwu) had left, she discovered that her safe was already damaged and that some of her gold jewelry worth millions of naira were gone.

“Some of the missing items include: gold earrings, bangles, rings and necklaces worth N8,500,000 and some pendants worth N2,500,000.

“She asked her 17-year-old grandson living with her about the missing items and he claimed it was Nwachukwu, the security guard, who instructed him to bring the gold jewelry for him,” Sunday told the court.

He further stated that the second defendant told the police that he usually came to the complainant’s house to sell gold to her but that she was not the only person doing business with her.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 287(7), 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

It was gathered that Section 328 stipulates 14 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of receiving stolen property.

The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Daodu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Daodu, thereafter, adjourned the case till Nov. 27 for mention.