The Lagos State Police Command has cleared Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal of allegations that she stole gold at the Oba Akintoye Market in the Lagos Island area. The accusations against Anjorin-Lawal surfaced in a viral video that showed traders accusing her of theft, leading to a public outcry. However, police investigations have revealed that the accusations were based on a misunderstanding.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police, provided details on the case on Friday. He clarified that the issue stemmed from an error in the bank account details provided by the gold seller, leading to a mistaken transfer. “There was no case of stealing to start with; our investigation revealed that the seller of the goods gave the wrong account number,” Hundeyin said. “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.”
According to the police, Anjorin-Lawal acted in good faith by making a second transfer to the correct account number after the mistake came to light, even though the error was not her fault. Hundeyin noted, “She did a double transfer just to avoid trouble, even though the mistake was not hers.”
The investigation also showed that the traders who accused Anjorin-Lawal admitted their mistake in their statements at the police station. Hundeyin explained, “When it turned out that it was a mistake of facts and that they called her a thief in error, Lizzy took the assault meted out against her up. 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had gone to court, for reasons best known to her, she said she was no longer interested in the case, and the case was withdrawn.”
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The initial incident gained widespread attention in February 2024, when a video clip showing the assault on Anjorin-Lawal at the market circulated online. The police subsequently arrested six traders—Qudus Jokogbola, Suru Olawale, Edu Shakirat, Fausat Mohammed, Kafayat Ahmed, and Opere Simiat Morenike—in connection with the assault. The defendants were charged with assault and blackmail at the Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos Island.
Prosecutor Sola Samuel explained the charges, stating that the traders and two others at large allegedly conspired to assault Anjorin-Lawal, resulting in bodily harm. Samuel added, “The actions of the defendants caused a breach of public peace,” noting that their conduct violated sections of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
All six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the court proceedings, their defense lawyer, Ade Oshodi, requested that the court grant them bail, emphasizing that the defendants were traders and not flight risks.
Magistrate A.A. Paul granted the defendants bail, setting the amount at N200,000 each, with a requirement for one surety who must be a Lagos resident and provide evidence of tax payment. Until they meet the bail conditions, the defendants remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services.