Actress Yetunde Akilapa arrested for stealing N7m items

A Nollywood actress, Yetunde Akilapa has been brought before an Ikeja chief magistrates’ court on Thursday and charged with stealing valuables worth N7 million.

The actress, 32, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on burglary and stealing to which she pleaded not guilty.

Benson Emuerhi, police prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 27 at no. 14/16, Mutairu street, Shangisha, Ketu, Lagos.

Emuerhi said the accused was apprehended while trying to enter the apartment of the complainant, Adeboye Lamidi.

Lamidi alleged that he was in his sitting room when he noticed someone was trying to open the door to his apartment with a key from outside.

“I peeped through the door hole and l saw the accused trying to open my door with a key,” the complainant said.

The prosecutor also alleged that the accused on November 16, 2015, broke into the residence of Oyinlola Tuga by unlocking the door with a master key.

Tuga, who lives at no. 39A, Ayodele Okeowo street, Gbagada Soluyi in Lagos, reported that the accused stole jewellery, bags and other valuables worth N7 million.

He said: “Tuga alleged that after raising alarm that his house had been burgled, his neighbours told him that they saw the accused parked her car with registration no. MUS 689 CZ in front of the complainant’s house.

“They challenged her and found the stolen items and a hundred bunch of keys on her. The accused was apprehended and handed over to the police at Ifako police station.”

Olufunke Sule-Amzat, the magistrate, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties. She adjourned the case until October 22

The actress was in the news in February 2013 when she was arrested for robbery by the police in Alade, Somolu area of Lagos.

She was sent to the Kirikiri Prison and after a few months, she regained her freedom in November 2013.

On January 12, 2014, she was again caught trying to steal with a bunch of master keys hidden in her brassiere at a house in Magodo Phase II.