Housemaid steals, buries N1.5 million in bush

The sum of N1.5 million stolen in Lagos by a housemaid, Happiness Gabriel, has been recovered in a bush, in Ogun State.

The 18-year-old maid, who stole her boss’s money within two and a half hours of being engaged in her Lagos home, was reportedly aided by her 30-year-old stepfather, Gabriel Igbang.

It was gathered that sometimes in May 2016, Happiness was contracted by Mrs Bolanle Ibukunoluwa through one Alhaja popularly known and called Iya Dolapo, as a housemaid and the monthly salary agreed upon was N7, 000 which was to be paid at the end of the year.

Happiness moved to the house of her mistress and on June 26, 2016, at about 5:30 p.m. the complainant went out and came back at about 8:00 p.m. to discover that her housemaid had absconded. She forced the gate opened and then discovered that her Lenovo phone valued at N20, 000 was nowhere to be found. She hurriedly went to her room and discovered that N1, 500, 000 had been stolen as well.

Immediately the complainant saw that her money and phone were missing, she went to her neighbour’s place to enquire if they knew the whereabouts of her housemaid and they said she left before 8:00 p.m. She then went to report the incident at Central Police Station and the police swung into action.

Happiness was later apprehended at Benin, Edo State where she ran to, after giving her step father the money she stole.

Under interrogation, her stepfather denied receiving any money from her and even her mother, Joy, also denied that she was given money by her daughter.

After much interrogation they all confessed and Happiness took the police to the bush in Ogun State where a cash of N300, 000 was recovered and another sum of N252, 500 was also recovered at another location in the bush at Ogun State.

Delivering her judgement, Magistrate Omoyele found the first defendant guilty of conspiracy and stealing and consequently sentenced her to two and half years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Her step father was found guilty of the offence of receving stolen property and was jailed one year without an option of fine.