I robbed my boss to pay my mum’s hospital bill – Housemaid

Gloria Chukwu is just 20 years old, but she is currently in police custody full of regret. Her brother, who identified himself simply as Nnamdi Chukwu, was also arrested as an accomplice in the crime.

Both of them were paraded with other suspects by the Lagos State police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni.

Before her arrest, Chukwu said she was employed as a maid by a couple who both work with reputable companies and live in Ikorodu area of the state. She explained that her mother had been sick for some time but that she and her siblings had not been able to raise the money for her treatment.

“I told my boss and his wife about it, hoping they would help me with some money but they didn’t care. So, I devised a means to raise the money,” she said.

She explained that she stole their
belongings comprising nine tablets and their chargers, one digital camera, four mobile phones, one international passport and two bags, all of which she said she handed over to her brother to sell and use the proceeds to pay for their mother’s hospital bill, which she gave as N500,000.

She said, “I took the items from my madam’s house because of my mum’s sickness. I wanted my brother to sell them and use the money to pay for the hospital bill of my mum, who is in Onueke in Ebonyi State. It was when my brother came to Lagos from his school in Abia State that he told me how serious the sickness was. So, I took the tabs and other things when they had gone to work and told him to meet me somewhere to collect them.

“I didn’t think I could be caught because all that was on my mind was how to raise money for my mum’s treatment since my boss didn’t help me. I told them my mum was seriously sick but they didn’t say anything, so I thought I should raise the money myself.

“I did not take money, I only took the items and gave them to my brother to sell. I feel very bad. If I had known, I wouldn’t have done it.”

The Police commissioner told journalists that on Monday, December 5, 2015 Chukwu called her employers who were at work to inform them that armed robbers came to rob the house and that they stole valuable items, including laptop, tablets and that they collected money from her.

Owoseni explained, “When the complainant informed the police, our operatives discovered that one of the tablets was still functioning and they were able to trace it to a location in Lagos. The suspect that was found with the tablets is a sister to the maid. They are in the custody helping us with our investigations.”

The police boss said findings showed that Chukwu was employed through the means of internet. He cautioned the public to be cautious when employing maids, saying, “If it is possible, people should involve the security agencies so that they will have record of such people and we would let them know whether those people have previous criminal tendencies.”