Guard, Cleaner Arrested For Sleeping Off As N10m Goods Are Stolen

The police have charged a security guard Gabriel Elijah and a cleaner Eju Bright after goods valued at over N10million was carted away from a luxury goods store and a hair salon in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The Nation learnt that last Saturday, a hairdresser employed by the salon owner, Mr Abiodun Yusuf, resumed for work at around 6am but met the building’s gate locked.

She knocked on the gate until Elijah, who had apparently been sleeping, came out of the gatehouse to let her in.The lady went in but discovered that the salon and the luxury goods shop had been burgled.

It was later discovered that the lock on the back door entrance to the building was open and the lock had been broken.

Elijah and Bright, who also slept in the gatehouse that night, were arrested by the police from the Maroko Police Station, Lekki.

It was learnt that they told the police that they both slept off around midnight after Elijah locked up the building and did not wake up until around 6am when they heard the knock on the gate.

Elijah and Bright,were arraigned yesterday before Mrs. A. O. Komolafe of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

They are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, breaking, entering, stealing and failure to prevent a felony.

Prosecuting Inspector Abayomi Abass told the court that the defendants and their accomplices committed the offences last Saturday between 1am and 5:30am.

He said they broke into the shops and carted away three boxes of clothes, 17 necklaces, nine boxes of wristwatches, seven cuttage, eight Stonds earrings, seven “normal” rings, five broach channel, three sonotic rings, 10 “huge” earrings and four sets of earrings and pendants.

Others items are three HP laptops, a Lenovo laptop, three plasma television sets, one Tecno pad 7c and one iPad among others, all valued at N10million, property of Mr. and Mrs. Enuogu Obioha.

The duo were also accused of stealing a Samsung TV worth N130,000, an iPhone 5s worth N150,000, three packs of Dark and Lovely valued at N7,000 and one handbag valued at N5,000 property of one Abiodun Yusuf.

Elijah was also charged, as a security guard, with failure to prevent the felony.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Komolafe granted them N1million bail each with two sureties in the like sum who must be gainfully employed, show evidence of three years’ tax payment and have verified addresses.

She adjourned the case till May 23.