Police arrest domestic workers for stealing employer’s N243m jewelries

Two domestic workers, Alex Obiyan and Ayuba Samson have been arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) from the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly stealing jewelries worth N243 million in Lekki area of the state.

Obinyan, a cleaner, and Samson, a car washer, were said to have stolen a diamond neck chain as well as Frank Muller and Rolex wristwatches worth N243million belonging to their boss, a celebrity, and fled to Borno State.

The neck chain and Frank Muller wristwatch were sold for N6milion and N4million, respectively in Lagos and Abuja.

According to reports, Obinyan, who earned N80,000 monthly, had spent over eight years working with the celebrity, whose identity the police did not disclose, while Ayuba, who earned N50,000 monthly, started working two months ago.

According to the RRS the suspects, who were captured on CCTV leaving the celebrity’s residence, had confessed to stealing the Cuban diamond chain worth N54million, the Frank Moller wristwatch worth N140million, and the Rolex wristwatch worth N49million.

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Obiyan, in his confessional statement to the police, said: “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 Moller 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 N6million.

“The following day, we escaped to Abuja, where we bought a Toyota Corolla, and we sold the Frank Moller watch in Abuja for N4million to raise more money for our escape to Borno State, where we planned to start new lives and businesses.”

A letter Obiyan left for his boss before escaping from the house read: “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 police said the suspects were arrested in Maiduguri in the two-bedroom apartment they rented alongside the buyers of the items, Haruna Abdullahi and Abubakar Buhari.

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