Micah Ruth Francis, a 25-year-old housemaid, was detained by the Maroko Division, Lekki, of the Lagos State Police Command after she was accused of stealing N2,323,800 worth of property from her employer.
According to police, the defendant allegedly committed the act after Elizabeth Oluwatosin Leigh, her employer, left her at home while she went on vacation.
The defendant is also accused by the police of stealing a number of designer perfumes, handbags, makeup products, children’s items, and other items valued at N2,323,800 before using a duplicate key to enter her employer’s bedroom and leaving.
Police alleged that when the complainant came back from abroad and discovered that her property inside the bedroom had been stolen, she reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Maroko Division, SP Afolabi Salau, who swiftly directed his crack team led by ASP Egbo Ferdinard to fish out the fleeing maid.
The Police team after days of intelligence gathering tracked the defendant to a hideout in Lagos and arrested her.
Francis from the Kajura area of Kaduna State was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a one-count charge of stealing.
Police Prosecuting Counsel, Reuben Solomon told the Court in the charge Marked P/1/2023 that the defendant committed the offence between 1 and 29 December 2022 at Akin Leigh Crescent, Lekki Phase I, Lekki, Lagos.
Solomon informed the Court that the defendant packed her employer’s properties from her bedroom and escaped before she was tracked and arrested.
He said the offence the defendant committed was punishable under session 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate O.S Abioye granted her N1m bail with two sureties in like sum.
Abioye adjourned the case till 16 February 2023 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Kirikiri correctional facility, Apapa, Lagos till she perfected the bail conditions.