Lagos: Dispatch riders face charges for theft of valuable items

Dispatch riders in Lagos have recently found themselves embroiled in criminal cases over alleged thefts of valuable items entrusted to them for delivery.

29-year-old Chigaemezu Kingsley, a dispatch rider residing at No. 8, Muyiwa Close, Off Ajayi Road, Ikeja Lagos, was brought before the Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for the said offence.

He faces charges of acquiring by false pretense and theft; he is accused of stealing gold jewelry worth N2.7 million. The alleged theft occurred on April 2 in Aguda, Lagos Magisterial District, where Chigaemezu purportedly absconded with a parcel containing the jewelry intended for delivery to a client in Sangotedo Ajah.

In a separate incident, Matthew Odah, a 27-year-old dispatch rider known as Mr. Lemon, was apprehended by the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) after eight months on the run. Odah stands accused of selling three iPhones worth N1.7 million entrusted to him for delivery.

The iPhones, including an iPhone 14 ProMax (128 GB) and two iPhone 11 models (128 and 68 GB), were meant for delivery to a client in Lekki on August 23, 2023.

Odah’s arrest took place at Alpha Beach, Lagos, where one of the iPhones was recovered. During interrogation, Odah admitted to selling the iPhones in Obalende for N300,000.

These cases underscore the importance of stringent measures to vet and monitor delivery personnel to prevent theft and ensure the safe delivery of valuable items in Lagos.

The legal proceedings highlight the need for accountability and adherence to ethical conduct among individuals entrusted with the responsibility of delivering goods to customers.

As the cases progress through the judicial system, they serve as a reminder of the challenges faced in maintaining the integrity of delivery services amidst concerns of theft and misappropriation of entrusted items.