By Oghenekevwe Laba
LAGOS: A house help Mrs Freedom Maddy, her husband James Maddy and an Hausa businessman Alhaji Hassan Bawa are presenting telling policemen of State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) what they know about the missing gold worth N20m belonging to Mrs. Monday David (real name withheld)
Police source informed Urhobotoday that when Mrs David was in need of a house help, one John and Joseph Obong who claimed to be agents brought a female house help identified as Rejoice who only worked for two days and disappeared.
In dare need of house help, Mrs. David again approached the duo of John and Joseph who brought in another lady by name Comfort. According to police source, Comfort only worked for one day during which she ransacked her Madam’s home in her absent, stole her jewelry worth N20m and vanished into the thin air.
Attempts by Mrs David to contact the duo of John and Joseph who brought Comfort to her was futile, as investigation later revealed that both agents gave her fake names, address and telephone numbers. Even the lady given to her as househelp also presented fake identities.
The case was transferred to State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja on October 5th, 2012. During investigation and with the assistant of Ikoyi Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Aisha Haruna, a Superintendent of Police (SP), one Freedom Maddy who was later identified as the fleeing Comfort was apprehended.
Further investigation revealed that the said Freedom Maddy took the gold home to her husband Maddy James in company of one Denis who presented himself to the complainant earlier as ‘Agent’ John. They later sold the gold for N1.3M to one Hassan Bawa.
Addressing newsmen on the theft, Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) NgoZi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) warned employers to be careful on those they employ as their house helps, drivers and lawn gardners.
“This group and many others at large specialize in gaining employment as a house help or driver with fake names, addresses, guarantors and telephone numbers after which they will escape with the employer’s property and vanish into the thin air,” Braide disclosed, warning that the public should be educated on the tricks of this criminals.
She said the suspects are undergoing interrogation, just as she assured that efforts are on top gear to recover the stolen gold jewelries