The Lagos State Police Command, has arraigned a maid, Cynthia Ikade, 19, and two others before the Yaba Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly robbing a woman, Esther Okanlawon, of N2.8m, at her house in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
According to The PUNCH, Ikade, 19, and her accomplice, Pius Sunday, 28;and Loveth Uloko, 20, were arraigned on three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful conversion.
It was reported that Ikade, a maid who worked for Okanlawon at her home in Mushin, abruptly informed Okanlawon that she was no longer interested in the position.
The agent through whom she was employed was allegedly called by her employer, but the latter was unreachable via phone.
The adolescent then requested that Sunday, whom she claimed was her brother, come and pick her up from the house.
Sunday, as he was leaving the house with Ikade, advised the woman to phone him whenever she wanted another maid to replace Ikade, claiming to be an agent as well.
It was gathered that Okanlawon called him after three months to bring in another maid, as he sent Uloko.
On October 10, 2022, Sunday and Ikade, together with one Henry who is still at large, allegedly broke into the woman’s house and plundered the family with the help of Uloko, who allegedly opened the gate and kitchen rear door for them.
The defendants were charged with three counts each.
The charges read in part, “That you, Pius Sunday, Ikade Cynthia, Loveth Uloko, and one other at large, on or before October 10, 2022, at on Isiaka Nade Street, Mushin, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, while in the service of the victim, as an agent to housemaids, did intentionally arm yourselves with a locally-made gun and a knife and robbed Mrs Esther Okanlawon and her two visitors of the sum of 2,150,000, a wedding ring valued at N300,000, 500 pounds, 170 US dollars, 100 Canadian dollars, a handbag valued at 15 pounds and other valuables, all property of Esther Okanlawon and her family, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendants’ plea was not taken.
The prosecutor,Godwin Oriabure, argued for the three defendants to be held in custody for 30 days until the Directorate of Public Prosecutions obtains legal counsel.
The Chief Magistrate, A. O. Salawu, presiding, postponed the case until February 9, 2023, in order to seek legal counsel.
