A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a couple, Comfort and Isaac Jacob, to terms of imprisonment for stealing $12,000 and ₦500,000 from a Lagos-based woman, Mrs Omolara Dakore.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, who presided over the matter, sentenced Comfort, a domestic worker, to four years imprisonment for stealing and conspiracy.
Her husband, Isaac, was handed a one-year jail term for conspiring with her to perpetrate the crime.
The court’s decision followed a plea bargain agreement entered into by the couple, who had initially been arraigned on six counts but later pleaded guilty to an amended two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi described Comfort’s actions as a “profound breach of trust,” noting that she took advantage of her privileged access to her employer's home.
“Comfort was employed as a house help, a position that requires the utmost integrity and honesty.
“Instead, you exploited your access to steal substantial sums of money. Such offences are unfortunately common in our society, where domestic workers abuse the confidence reposed in them,” the judge said.
Justice Oshodi emphasised that the impact of such crimes goes beyond the immediate financial loss, as it erodes trust and unfairly casts suspicion on honest domestic workers.
“You have violated the sacred trust between employer and employee.
“Your actions undermine the very foundation of domestic employment relationships,” he said.
The judge sentenced Comfort to one year in prison for conspiracy and three years for stealing.
Both sentences are to run concurrently, meaning she will serve a total of three years.
However, the sentencing is to take effect from April 13, 2022, the date she was initially remanded in custody.
Isaac Jacob, who was convicted only on the count of conspiracy, was sentenced to one year in prison.
The court also ordered that all items recovered during the investigation be applied as restitution to the victim, Mrs Omolara Dakore.
The couple was first arraigned on May 10, 2023, on six counts, including conspiracy, breaking and entering, and stealing.
They had pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution, led by Police Counsel, Joseph Eboseremen, to call one witness, ASP Patrick Anthony, who investigated the case.
During the trial, the prosecution tendered three documentary exhibits, including the defendants' confessional statements, which were admitted after a trial-within-trial to determine their admissibility.
According to ASP Anthony’s testimony, Dakore had employed Comfort as a house help on February 9, 2022.
Just two days later, Comfort vanished from the residence while her employer was at church.
Upon her return, Dakore discovered that a locked room had been opened and a white envelope containing ₦500,000 and $12,000 was missing, along with a key to the premises.
Efforts to trace Comfort were initially unsuccessful until she and her husband were tracked to Benin City and arrested on April 12, 2022.
They were subsequently brought back to Lagos for prosecution.
The offences were found to be in violation of Sections 287(7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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