Interpol arraigns foreigner over alleged €1,024.69, property theft

A foreign national, Lamborne Grace Muila, has been arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged offences bordering on the stealing of properties and the sum of €1,024.69.

The defendant was brought before Chief Magistrate Ejiro Kubeije following her arrest by operatives of the International Police (Interpol).

The arrest was reportedly led by a team headed by a Commissioner of Police, Mr Bode Ojajuni.

Arraigning the defendant, counsel for the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, Morufu Ajani Animashaun, told the court that the alleged offences were committed sometime in June 2025 at Daramola Street, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, Muila allegedly lured victims who were based in the diaspora under the guise of organising a cosmetic training and seminar for ladies returning to Nigeria.

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He told the court that the defendant claimed to be running the training through her organisation, Degrace World.

Animashaun alleged that the defendant collected training fees, flight ticket refunds and accommodation payments from the prospective trainees, who had travelled to Lagos to attend the cosmetic training programme.

Among the items allegedly stolen by the defendant are a mini billboard or model board, 14 make-up tables, 12 make-up chairs, 10 hairstyling wig heads, 14 ring-light stands and one roll-up black banner. The sum of €1,024.69 was also alleged to have been dishonestly converted to her personal use.

The properties and money were said to belong to one Fanta Sylla, a foreign national and one of the participants who attended the cosmetic training organised by the defendant.

The prosecutor informed the court that the alleged acts contravened Sections 280(1)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Law, Chapter C17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and are punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

But when the charges were read to her, the defendant denied committing the offences and pleaded not guilty.

Following her plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in custody pending the determination of the case.

However, counsel for the defendant pleaded with the court to admit her to bail on liberal terms, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable and that his client was presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

After listening to submissions from both parties, Chief Magistrate Kubeije granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million, with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The magistrate ordered that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction and must present evidence of three years’ tax payment.

The court further directed that the bail conditions be verified by the prosecutor.

The court ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to February 23, 2026, for mention.

One of the charges against the defendant stated that she allegedly stole several cosmetic training items belonging to Fanta Sylla in June 2025 at Oniru, Victoria Island.

Another count accused her of dishonestly converting €1,024.69, said to be refunded by a ticket vendor, to her personal use in May 2025.