19-year-old Cynthia Ikade has been arraigned before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for robbing her former employer, Esther Okanlawon, of N2.8 million, and other valuables.

She was said to have conspired with her accomplices, 28 year old Pius Sunday and 20 year old Loveth Uloko to perpetrate the act, with the trio arraigned on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

According to reports, Ikade worked as a maid for Esther Okanlawon at her house in Mushin area of the state, and was said to have suddenly stated that she was no longer interested in the job. Mrs. Okanlawon then called the agent through who linked her to come take her, but the agent could not be reached on the phone.

Ikade was said to have requested that a certain Sunday who she lied was her brother should be the one to pick her from the house. Pius Sunday then came upon her prompt, and while leaving the house, Sunday urged Mrs. Okanlawon to call him anytime she needed another maid to replace Ikade, saying he was also an agent.

After three months, Mrs. Okanlawon called Sunday that she would be needing another maid, and he sent Uloko.

It was gathered that Sunday and Ikade, together with one Henry, currently on the run invaded Okanlawon’s house on October 10, 2022, and robbed the family, with the help of Uloko, who allegedly opened the gate and kitchen back door for them.

The trio was arraigned on three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful conversion.

The charges read in part, “That you, Pius Sunday, Ikade Cynthia, Loveth Uloko, and one other at large, on or before October 10, 2022, at on Isiaka Nade Street, Mushin, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, while in the service of the victim, as an agent to housemaids, did intentionally arm yourselves with a locally-made gun and a knife and robbed Mrs Esther Okanlawon and her two visitors of the sum of 2,150,000, a wedding ring valued at N300,000, 500 pounds, 170 US dollars, 100 Canadian dollars, a handbag valued at 15 pounds and other valuables, all property of Esther Okanlawon and her family, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015."

The prosecutor, Godwin Oriabure, pleaded that the three defendants be remanded in a custodial centre for 30 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The presiding Chief Magistrate, A. O. Salawu, adjourned the case till February 9, 2023, for legal advice.