Odegbami's wife's driver and housekeeper arraigned for stealing her jewellery worth N150

FORMER Super Eagles skipper Segun Odegbami has become embroiled in a minor legal battle after police charged the driver and housekeeper of his wife to court for the theft of N150m (£351,343) worth of jewellery.

 

In what is now becoming commonplace across Nigeria, two members of Mrs Oyindamola Odegbami's domestic staff  have been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State. Mohammed Abdulazeez, 26, the driver and the 25-year-old housekeeper, Rose Patrick, were arraigned alongside 28-year-old Ester Pam, a friend of the housekeeper on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

 

In the case brought  before Magistrate YO Aje-Afunwa, the accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecutor Peter Nwangwu told the court that the trio allegedly committed the offence on December 10, 2016 at Mrs Odegbami’s residence at Bourdillon St, Ikoyi, Lagos.

 

He added: “The complainant, Mrs Odegbami on December 10, 2016, discovered that jewellery as well as some personal effects were missing from her bedroom. The missing personal effects are a set of Roberto Coin Gold set valued at $15,000 (N7.5m) a set of Van Clef Diamond and Gold Butterfly Jewellery valued at $50,000 (N25m).

 

“A dangling gold jewellery set valued at $50,000 (N25m), a set of black and white diamonds valued at $75,000 (N37.5m), a plain gold set valued at $15,000 (N7.5m). A big set of gold and diamond encrusted pendant valued at $50,000 (N25m) as well as other valuable personal and household items such as an ipad, three blackberry mobile phones, six Ankara fabrics etc.”

 

According to the prosecutor, after noticing that the items were missing, Mrs Odegbami, came to the realisation that Ms Patrick, her housekeeper who never returned from a holiday that ended over two weeks ago was responsible for the theft. She then reported the matter to the authorities and Ms Patrick was apprehended at the home of her boyfriend, one Mathias Hussein, a mobile policeman of Mopol 43, Lion Building, Obalende, Lagos.

 

Police investigations also revealed that Abdulazeez, the complainant’s driver and Pam, Ms Patrick’s friend also domestic staff in a neighbouring residence, had aided her in carrying the allegedly stolen items in suitcases from the home.

 

Upon interrogation by the police, Ms Patrick admitted stealing Mrs Odegbami’s household items and personal effects but denied taking the jewellery. After this, the property she admitted stealing were recovered from the Mobile Police Barracks residence of her boyfriend Hussein at Obalende, Lagos

 

Mrs Odegbami’s counsel, Kennedy Osunwa told the court that Corporal Hussein, is yet to be arraigned in court with the other accused. Magistrate Aje-Afunwa granted each of the accused N2m bail with two sureties in like sum.

 

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