Police exonerate actress Lizzy Anjorin of gold theft allegation

The Lagos State Police Command stated on Friday that no case of theft had been formed against Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal, who was accused of taking gold from the Oba Akintoye Market on Lagos Island.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development to our correspondent, who requested an update on the case.

He said during the command’s investigation, it was established that the video showing people, including traders, accusing Anjorin-Lawal of stealing was a mistake of facts.

Hundeyin said, “There was no case of stealing to start with; our investigation revealed that the seller of the goods gave the wrong account number. Out of the 10 digits the person was to provide, one digit was given wrongly and our investigation revealed that Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal did the transfer to the wrong account number.

“But when it turned out that it was a mistake of facts and that they called her a thief in error, Lizzy (Anjorin-Lawal) took the assault meted out against her up and after the suspects were arrested and the case had gone to court, for reasons best known to her, she said she was no longer interested in the case and the case was withdrawn.”

Speaking further, Hundeyin said the people who accused Anjorin-Lawal of stealing, while writing their statements at the police station, confirmed that they were the ones who made the mistake, as it was the seller that gave her the wrong account details.

“Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal transferred what she was supposed to transfer, which was about N90,000, into the wrong account that she was given and there was a receipt; when it was becoming too hot, she again transferred money to the correct account number they gave her.

“So, she did a double transfer just to avoid trouble, even though the mistake was not hers. So, I am confirming that the police investigation revealed that there was no stealing. Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal was not culpable of stealing as she did not engage in stealing according to our investigation,” the PPRO added.

It was reported that Anjorin, during her visit to the market, was accused of stealing gold and assaulted by some traders in a video clip that went viral online.

In February 2024, Punch Online reported that no fewer than six traders were arrested in connection to the assault and the six traders were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos Island Local Government for allegedly assaulting and blackmailing Anjorin-Lawal during her visit to the market to purchase gold.

The defendants—Qudus Jokogbola, Suru Olawale, Edu Shakirat, Fausat Mohammed, Kafayat Ahmed, and Opere Simiat Morenike—were charged, while two other suspects were at large.

According to the prosecution led by Sola Samuel, the six defendants and two others conspired to commit the offence by forcefully pushing and dragging Anjorin-Lawal, causing her grievous bodily harm inside Oba Akintoye Market in Lagos Island.

Samuel told the court that the defendants’ actions caused a breach of public peace.

He said the offences contravened Sections 411 and 413; 168(d) and 170(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015, and are punishable under the same Act.

All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Defence lawyer, Ade Oshodi, urged the court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms, stating they were traders.

In his ruling, Magistrate A.A. Paul granted each defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety each.

The sureties must be Lagos residents with evidence of tax payment.

The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services until they met their bail terms.

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