A young woman, Cynthia Ikade, aged 19, was brought before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on charges of conspiring with a group to steal N2.8 million and other valuable items from her previous employer, Esther Okanlawon, as obtained by MandyNews.com.
Ikade was charged along with her conspirators Pius Sunday, 28, and Loveth Uloko, 20, on January 12, 2023.
It was reported that Ikade, who served as Okanlawon’s maid at her home in the state’s Mushin district, abruptly informed Okanlawon that she was no longer interested in the position. Her boss called the agent she was employed by to come pick her up, but the agent was not reachable via phone.
The teen then made a request for Sunday, whom she identified as her brother, to pick her up from the house. After that, Sunday advised the woman to phone him whenever she wanted a different maid to take Ikade’s place, claiming that he was also an agent, as they were leaving the house with Ikade.
According to reports, Okanlawon called him three months later to send another maid, and he responded by sending Uloko.
On October 10, 2022, Sunday, Ikade, and Henry—one of whom is still at large—allegedly broke into the woman’s home and plundered the family with the assistance of Uloko, who is accused of opening the gate and the rear door for them.
Three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal conversion were brought against the accused at their arraignment.
The charges stated that “Pius Sunday, Ikade Cynthia, Loveth Uloko, and one other individual (who is currently at large) on or before October 10, 2022, while working as agents for housemaids, intentionally armed themselves with a locally-made gun and a knife and robbed Mrs. Esther Okanlawon and her two visitors of a total of 2,150,000 Nigerian naira, a wedding ring valued at 300,000 Nigerian naira, 500 pounds, 170 US dollars, 100 Canadian dollars, a handbag valued at 15 pounds, and other valuables, all of which belonged to Esther Okanlawon and her family. This offense is punishable under Section 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendants’ plea was not accepted.
Godwin Oriabure, the prosecutor, argued for the three defendants to be held in custody for 30 days while the Directorate of Public Prosecutions seeks legal counsel. A. O. Salawu, the Chief Magistrate presiding, postponed the case until February 9, 2023, to seek legal counsel.
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