The police on Wednesday arraigned two cleaners, Sodiq Rafiu and his younger brother, Sodiq Olalekan, for breaking into the home of their client and stole his money and properties valued at N33,010,000.
Rafiu 29, of No. 23, Popoola Banjoko Street, Ifako and Olalekan, 22, of No. 21, Harmony Land, Agbede, Ikorodu, Lagos, were brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
They were arraigned before Mrs A. O. Komolafe on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful breaking, entering and stealing.
Prosecuting police officer, Insp. Abass Abayomi, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the alleged offences at about 7:30 p.m. between December 22, 2016 and January 31 this year, at No. 8, Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He said the offences were punishable under sections 409, 305 (a) (b), 306 (2) and 285 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Responding to a question from the magistrate, Abayomi said the siblings were employees of a cleaning firm and sometime last December were assigned to clean the home of a client, Mr. Eke U. Eke, in Ikoyi.
He alleged that after finishing their work, the brothers entered Eke’s house through the back door.
“They pretended to lock the door, but wedged it with a piece of paper so that it did not properly shut,” Abayomi said.
He alleged that the suspects and their accomplices returned to the house from December 22 and stole money in various currencies as well as other valuables.
The stolen items, he said, comprised gold and diamond jewelries valued at N20,000,000, seven ‘fashion belts’ valued at N2,450,000, two wristwatches valued at N1,200,000 and two Jimmy Choo handbags valued at N2,000,000.
Other stolen items are $5,000 equivalent to N2,500,000, £1000 equivalent to N625,000, three iPads valued at N1,350,000 and two Bluetooth Speakers valued at N350,000, all properties of Eke.
The total value of the properties, Abayomi added, was N33,010,000.