Teenager, Street Sweeper Docked For Stealing N1.7m Jewelry

A 16 year-old maid, Zainab Ibrahim and a street sweeper, Shade Yusuf, 56, have been arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing assorted jewelry worth over N1. 7 million, belonging to one Oyinkansola Olanipekun.

The police from State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Panti-Yaba, Lagos, in a charge marked B/276/2018, alleged that the teenager and the street sweeper committed the act sometimes in October, at 29, Alhaji Mustafa Street, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

The teenager was slammed with two counts charge of conspiracy and stealing, while the street sweeper was charged with counts of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen items.

During the arraignment the duo before the court, the police told the court that the defendants were charged to court, after the petition written against them by the complaint, Oyinkansola Olanipekun, was  thoroughly investigated by the Investigation Police Officer, Inspector Oyedele Oyekunle, who found them culpable of the allegation.

The prosecutor told the court that the teenager, was living with the complaint, who has been her foster mother since the death of her father.

He also told the court that when the teenager stole the jewelry, she handed it over to the Street Sweeper, who is their neighbour, for further disposal. Adding that when the complaint discovered that her jewelry was missing, the teenager opened up that she was the one that took it and gave it to the Street Sweeper.

He further informed the court that upon revelation made by the teenager, the Street Sweeper was interrogated but initially denied being given anything by the teenager, but when she heard that the police was to be involved, she also confessed receiving the jewelry from the teenager.

The police told the court that upon the voluntary confession of the defendants, they were charge to court on alleged conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen items.

The offences are contrary to section 411, 287(1) and 328(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.

However, both the teenager and the Street Sweeper pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following their not guilty plea, Magistrate Ojuromi O. who stood in for Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye, admitted them to bail in the sum of N200, 000. 00 with two sureties in the same sum each.

The magistrate also ordered that the sureties must shoe to court for evidence of three year tax payable to Lagos State government, means of livelihood, evidence of gainfully employed.

The magistrate also ordered that all documents tendered by the sureties must be verified by the prosecutor.

The magistrate, while adjourning the matter till January 24, 2019, for mention, ordered that the teenager be remanded at the Idi-Araba Juvenile Homes, order that the Street Sweeper be remanded at the females section of the  Kirikiri prison.