Teacher Arrested Over Pupil’s Stolen Money Scandal

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Rita Enemuru, Reporting

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Police operatives have arrested a 39-year-old schoolteacher, Leteefat Salaudeen of Community Primary School, Ikotun, Lagos, for allegedly receiving N168,000 and gift items from a 15-year-old pupil who stole N3 million from her parents.

According to reports, the teenager, identified as Ndubuisi Promise, reportedly took the N3 million belonging to her guardian, Angela Akunna, and brought the money to school, where she began spending it lavishly with fellow pupils.

Investigations revealed that when Salaudeen discovered that Promise had stolen such a large amount, she did not reprimand or caution the child.

Instead, she allegedly demanded a share of the stolen money.

Promise reportedly handed over N168,600 to the teacher, along with gift items valued at N10,000.

The matter came to light after the information leaked and eventually reached the owner of the money.

A complaint was lodged at the Ikotun Police Division, leading to the arrest and detention of the teenager.

During interrogation, Promise implicated the teacher and her friend, another 15-year-old identified as Solomon Blessing.

She reportedly told investigators that both of them were aware that the money was stolen and still collected their portions.

 Police officers, after reviewing the statements and evidence, found the trio culpable for conspiracy, stealing, and concealment of stolen property.

These offences attract several years of imprisonment under Lagos law.

Part of the charges filed against them stated:

Count I: “That you, Leteefat Salaudeen, who has been at large, in the month of August 2024 at about 1120hrs at Community Primary School, Ikotun, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire with two others to commit felony to wit stealing, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

In another charge, the court stated:

Count II: “That you, Leteefat Salaudeen, did collect the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Six Hundred Naira and a gift of Ten Thousand Naira from one Ndubuisi Promise, knowing her to be a student and not a trader, yet concealed the information from the school authority, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 98 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Promise and Blessing were also indicted.

Count IV reads: “That you, Ndubuisi Promise ‘F’, on the same date, time and place, did steal the sum of Three Million Naira, property of one Angela Akunna, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Blessing was accused of failing to disclose information about the theft.

Count V: “That you, Solomon Blessing ‘F’, did conceal the information that Ndubuisi Promise stole Three Million Naira and gave the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Naira to one Iya Leso, part of the stolen money, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 98 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws, 2015.”

The suspects were arraigned separately before the Ogba Magistrates’ Court, where the Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. F. Kusanu, ordered their remand.

Salaudeen was sent to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, while the juveniles were remanded at a juvenile home pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned for mention, and further proceedings are expected as the case unfolds.