Two individuals, Richard Nwachukwu, 31, and Abdullahi Anefi, 30, appeared in Ogudu magistrates’ court, Lagos, on charges of alleged gold jewelry theft and receipt of N11 million worth of gold jewelry.
While Nwachukwu, employed as a security guard, resides on Oluwatobi Street in Ikorodu, Lagos, Anefi, described as a jewelry vendor and his alleged accomplice, lives on Araromi Street in Ogudu, Ojota, Lagos.
The primary accused is facing charges of conspiracy and theft, whereas the second individual is on trial for conspiracy and the reception of stolen goods.
During the court proceedings, Prosecutor Insp. Bassey Sunday disclosed that the initial defendant had been assigned to Mrs. Rosanna Eso’s residence by a security company in 2022, fulfilling her specific request.
He mentioned that in July, the complainant’s housemaid informed her that the first defendant had instructed her to ‘leave mama’s room door open and put something inside her food.,’ leading the complainant to dismiss Nwachukwu from his 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 also mentioned that the second defendant informed the police that he typically visited the complainant’s residence to sell gold to her, clarifying that she was not his exclusive customer.
The prosecutor explained that the charges are in violation of Sections 287(7), 328, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Notably, Section 328 prescribes a 14-year prison sentence for anyone found guilty of receiving stolen property.