The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone has fixed January 19 and 20, 2026, for definite hearing in the case involving three defendants accused of stealing gold jewellery worth N300 million.
The defendants, Rukhayat Usman Abbeyson, Lauretu Ahmed and Sagir Ahmed, are facing charges of criminal conspiracy and theft filed by the Commissioner of Police.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme, who presided over Thursday’s proceedings, adjourned the matter after counsel for the complainant, C.G. Okafor (standing in for Adama Musa), informed the court that the lead lawyer was indisposed despite preparing a witness.
The defence team, led by Ishaka Mudi Dikko, SAN, did not object to the request.
The judge ordered all parties to be fully prepared for the next sitting.
According to court filings, the defendants allegedly stole gold jewellery belonging to Hajia Halima Suleiman on March 23, 2024, at her residence in Jabi, Abuja.
Abbeyson, said to be Suleiman’s personal assistant, is accused of orchestrating the theft, having exclusive knowledge, besides Suleiman, of the safe’s combination.
The prosecution listed several exhibits, including statements from the defendants and witnesses, bank statements from multiple banks, receipts, photographs of the jewellery and safe, and audio recordings contained in a compact disc.
The defendants have maintained their innocence, claiming they were falsely accused.
They also asked Justice Nwosu-Iheme to recuse herself from the case, but the judge declined, noting that no evidence of bias was established.
Separately, eight men arrested for snatching mobile phones on the Mile 2 pedestrian bridge in Lagos have each been sentenced to six months in prison.
The arrests were confirmed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who said the suspects were apprehended during a morning operation carried out by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).
Those convicted are:
Anthony Osinachi (21), Victor Onuoha (45), Rowland Ede (25), Daniel Chisom (24), Emmanuel Chukwu (35), Ogbonnaya Uchechi (18), Godday Eke (28), and Benjamin G. (30).
They were arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Oshodi, where all eight pleaded guilty.
Wahab praised LAGESC officials for their quick action and urged Lagos residents to stay vigilant and promptly report suspicious behaviour.
He noted that the state government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has intensified its crackdown on crime, illegal structures, shanties, and criminal hideouts across Lagos.
Recent enforcement operations also led to the arrest of six suspected “one-chance” operators around the Ijora Bridge area as part of a broader initiative targeting unsafe areas along Apapa Road and its environs.
