A domestic staff identified as Blessing Effiong, has been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly stealing her employer’s $51, 000, three days after she was employed in the Lekki area of the state.
Confirming the arrest to newsmen, the Zonal Police Public Relation Officer (ZPRO) SP Ayuba Umma, said the suspect was recommended for employment by an agent simply identified as Anthony and she began working as a domestic staff on December 23, 2023.
Umma said three days into her employment, she absconded with the sum belonging to her employer and fled with her husband to Cross River State but that on January 31, detectives from the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan Lagos, arrested her after receiving a petition against her by the employer whose identity is being protected by the police.
According to the police, following intensive investigation, both wife and husband were apprehended on January 31 in their hideout in Cross River State. Umma said during investigation, it was revealed that Blessing had approached Anthony under false pretenses to work as a domestic staff, providing misleading contact information and using registered phone numbers not associated with her identity.
“During the investigation, it was revealed that Blessing had approached Anthony under false pretences, providing misleading contact information and using registered phone numbers not associated with her identity. She failed to complete her employment application form.
Despite initially denying the full extent of stealing, Blessing eventually confessed to stealing $30,000 (N44,808,600), admitting to giving $20,000 (N29,872,400) to her husband, Bassey.
Bassey, in turn, confessed to receiving the stolen funds, part of which he used for settling his late mother’s medical bills, purchasing a tipper truck, two motorcycles, and completing a construction project in Cross River” SP Ayuba said