About eight months after she was accused of stealing gold and engaging in a fraudulent transaction at Idumota market, actress Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal has been acquitted by the police.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.
In February, some traders at Idumota market in Lagos Island accused the actress of stealing gold and making a fake transaction worth N91,000.
Lizzy, however, denied the allegations, describing them as “ridiculous.”
She further alleged that her colleague, Iyabo Ojo, with whom she had been having an online dispute, set her up at Idumota market.
However, the two actresses reconciled their differences in June.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday night, Lagos Police Spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the police investigation revealed that the actress did not steal any property.
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He said the seller provided the actress with an incorrect account number.
“There was no case of theft to begin with,” he said. “Our investigation revealed that the seller of the merchandise gave the wrong account number. Of the 10 digits the person was required to provide, one was incorrectly provided and our investigation revealed that Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal made the transfer to the wrong account number.”
court case
When asked about the six traders arrested and charged in connection with the case, the police spokesperson said: “I mentioned that when it turned out that this was a mistake of fact and she was mistakenly called a thief, Liz agreed, but she withdrew her interest in the case.
“So the case was not taken. He was removed from the court. So there is no case again. “The case has been withdrawn.”
This newspaper reported that six traders arrested in connection with the allegations were initially arraigned before the Lagos Island Local Government Magistrate's Court.
They were charged and prosecuted for allegedly assaulting and blackmailing the actress during her visit to purchase clothing materials at the market.
The accused – Qudus Jokogbola, Suru Olawale, Edu Shakirat, Fausat Mohammed, Kafayat Ahmed and Opere Morenike – were charged, while two other suspects remain at large.
Sola Samuel, lead prosecutor, told the court that the six accused, along with the two fugitives, conspired to commit the crime by forcefully pushing and dragging the actress, causing her significant bodily harm inside the market.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyer requested that bail be granted on the most lenient terms, emphasizing that they were mere traders.
The magistrate granted bail to the accused.
The withdrawal of the case therefore means that they no longer have a case to answer in court.
Why am I withdrawing the case?
Reacting to the development, Lizzy, in a video posted on her Instagram page on Friday, explained that she withdrew the case after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed her that justice would not be served to the suspected traders.
She said that neither she nor her lawyer received an explanation from the Public Ministry about this decision.
“I don't want to say much but make an official statement. The reason behind this was the PDP's decision; The decision of the Public Ministry was very wrong because I was a witness and a victim and I should have been a witness in court, but the Public Ministry said that it would not be prosecuted and I had to withdraw the case and that is a smart decision. If I didn't withdraw and allow the PDP to close the case, I might not go out to fight tomorrow.
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“I lost something terrible but I don't know why the Public Ministry said there was no prosecution. The issue was a setup because I had a receipt for the transfer I made on November 17. The reason why the Public Ministry said they should not prosecute the suspects is unknown until now. “Now it is up to the PDP to tell Nigerians why they should not be given justice because it is a case of crime and should not be swept under the carpet.”
She also expressed gratitude to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the police and all others involved in clearing her of the allegations.