A domestic staff and her husband who allegedly stole the sum of N76.5 million from their employer have been arrested by the police.
The theft was allegedly masterminded by Blessing Effiong, who works as domestic staff in a private home in an estate in the Lekki area of Lagos and her husband Bassey Effiong, three days after she was employed.
The couple were arrested by detectives from the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan Lagos.
It was learnt that Blessing got the job on December 23, 2023, through an agent identified as Anthony before she absconded with the $51,000 with her husband to Cross River State.
The couple’s arrest followed a report lodged at the Zonal Headquarters of Zone 2 by the victims after they discovered that the said amount was missing and their domestic staff was nowhere to be found.
Upon receipt of the report, detectives launched an intensive manhunt for Blessing, who at the time had switched off her phone.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Ayuba Umma, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the arrest, saying investigations revealed that Blessing Effiong had approached Anthony under pretence, providing misleading contact information and using registered phone numbers not associated with her identity.
The Zonal PRO said Blessing cleverly failed to complete her employment application form, indicating her fraudulent intentions.
“Despite initially denying the full extent of stealing, Blessing Effiong eventually confessed to stealing $30,000, about N45 million and that she gave $20,000, about N30 million to her husband, Bassey Effiong.
“Bassey Effiong, 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 State,” she added.
The Zonal PRO further stated that both suspects have since been charged and brought before the court following the completion of the investigation.
