2 Domestic Workers Steal N243M Jewelry from Lagos Celebrity

Matilda Omonaiye/

Men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two domestic workers, Alex Obinyan and Ayuba Samson, for allegedly stealing jewelry worth N243 million from the Lekki home of a celebrity.

The RRS disclosed the arrest of the duo, after an eight-day investigation Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno State by a decoy team, in a statement shared on its Facebook page this morning.

The suspects who were working for the unnamed celebrity as cleaner and car washer, reportedly fled to Maiduguri after committing the act.

The items they allegedly stole included, a Cuban diamond neck chain worth N54 million, as well as Frank Muller and Rolex wristwatches worth N140 million, and N49 million respectively.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the two were arrested after selling the neck chain and Frank Muller wristwatch for N6m and N4m, respectively in Lagos and Abuja.

One of the suspects, Obinyan, earned N80,000 monthly and had been working with the celebrity for over eight years, while Ayuba, who earned N50,000 monthly, started working two months ago.

The statement says the suspects had confessed to stealing the items.

According to the RRS, Obinyan in his confessional statement wrote: “I have been working with him in Lekki for over eight years. I am used to moving those valuables around the house whenever I found them in his car. I have never thought of stealing them.

“When Samson came and he saw me with the diamond encrusted gold chain, he convinced me that we could make a fortune from stealing them. He was not with us before. Within two months of his stay, we planned to steal these things.

“The boss was in the sitting room when we stole the chain along with the Frank Muller and Rolex wristwatches and before escaping; we already got a buyer for the chain. We sold the Cuban diamond chain in Eti-Osa, Lagos, for N6 million.

“The following day, we escaped to Abuja, where we bought a Toyota Corolla, and we sold the Frank Muller watch in Abuja for N4m to raise more money for our escape to Borno State, where we planned to start new lives and businesses.”

Also, an unedited letter Obinyan left for his boss before fleeing with the stolen items reads in part:

“I know you will be shocked why I write to you but the truth is that due to some quite observations, I have come to a notice that you are not a person that someone can rely on. I have been patient enough to see if you can help me but you keep on promising me up to (sic) now there is no avail (sic).

“To cut the story short, I have decided to stop working for you, and I am sorry to mention that but you have to bear with me. I have gone for good because I cannot continue to work for a person that does not care about (sic) me and does not value me for the rest of my life.”

The suspects were reportedly arrested in Maiduguri in the two-bedroom apartment they rented alongside the buyers of the items, Haruna Abdullahi and Abubakar Buhari.

Recovered from them were the Rolex wristwatch, two brand new tricycles, a Toyota Corolla car and the sum of $2,200.

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