Samuel Tchiki, a Beninese cook who works with an Abuja-based politician, Casmir Anyanwu, has stolen a safe containing $22,000.
Tchiki, who committed the crime four days after he was employed, connived with his compatriots to steal the safe, which they ferried in a taxi to Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, where they vandalised it and then embarked on a shopping spree with the money.
Tchiki and his friends bought television sets, sound systems, generators and other domestic appliances with the money, but the police recovered about $13,000, which they had yet to spend.
The cook and and his accomplices, Francis Kpohouede, George Akinto, Donald Tokpe, Honore Tokpe and Emmanuel Savi, were paraded by the police in Abuja on Thursday.
READ ALSO: Miyetti Allah identifies those responsible for killings, kidnappings in South East
Speaking to newsmen, Tchiki said, “When my boss, Casmir Anyanwu, travelled, I got my friends to carry the safe from his room and we took it to Mpape, where we opened it. We found $22,000, which we shared. I gave my brother $600. I spent my share on clothes and home appliances. I don’t know what got into me; I can’t say why I stole the money,” he said.
The Beninese, who has been living in Nigeria since 2008, explained that he once worked in a hotel in Calabar, Cross River State, but moved to Abuja on account of the poor salary.
Donald, who recommended Tchiki to Anyanwu for the job, said he got $4,000 out of which he spent $1,000 on personal effects.
George, who participated in the destruction of the safe said, “I was in Maitama when Tchiki called me that he wanted to take his boss’ safe; so, I went to meet them and we broke it with a hammer. We found $22,000 and documents in the safe and the others gave me $2,000.”
Leave a Reply