Security guard docked over alleged theft of employer`s N2m valuables

A 29-year-old security guard, James Nanjui, was on Friday arraigned at a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing his employer`s valuables worth about N2 million.

The accused, who said to be living with his employer, Chinonye Agboguo, at 20, Johnson Adegoke St., Unity Estate ,Lekki, is facing a two-count charge of unlawful entry into his employer`s bedroom and stealing.

He was said to have stolen gold valued at N1.2 million, wristwatches valued at N180, 000 as well as clothes and shoes valued at N275, 000 from his employer’s bedroom.

Also allegedly stolen by the accused, according to the prosecutor, Mrs Francisca Okere, were a laptop valued at N180,000, a computer game worth N50,000, N90,000 cash, a camcorder valued at N180,000 and cheque leaves.

Okere told the court that the offences were committed between Jan. 7, 2015 and August, 2015, at Agboguo’ residence.
She said that the accused duplicated his employer`s key and used it to steal the items anytime Agboguo and his family members were not around.

She said that the gradual disappearance of items from Agboguo’s bedroom had worried him and caused confusion and mistrust within his household.

“The situation got so bad that the complainant was suspecting everybody except himself.

“There were times he will call family members of the housekeepers working with him, to tell them what their children were doing.

“But each time he called, they always told him that their children were not into such things.

“The situation was particularly confusing because the accused hardly enter the building, and there no signs that anybody broke into the room,” she told the court.

The prosecutor, however, said that it was one Stephen Moses, who had bought one of the stolen items that gave the accused out to his employer.

She said that apart from the camcorder sold to Moses, some other items, including necklaces and wristwatches were recovered from the accused when he was arrested.
She said that the offences contravened sections 306 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2011).

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, Mr L. A. Owolabi, granted the bail to the accused in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
Owolabi adjourned the case till Sept. 14, 2015