Police Clear Nollywood Actress Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal Of Theft Allegation

By Utebor Paul, Nigeria

The Lagos State Police Command has cleared Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal, of theft allegations, following an investigation into an incident at Oba Akintoye Market, Lagos Island, where she was accused of stealing gold.

Speaking to Punch, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that the allegations against Anjorin-Lawal stemmed from a misunderstanding.

According to Hundeyin, the confusion arose when the seller of the gold provided the actress with an incorrect account number for payment. Out of the ten digits required, one was wrong, leading Anjorin-Lawal to transfer the money to the wrong account.

“There was no case of stealing from the start,” Hundeyin stated. “Our investigation showed that Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal transferred the amount, around N90,000, to the wrong account number provided by the seller.

When it became clear that it was a mistake, she transferred the money again to the correct account, even though the error was not her fault.”

Hundeyin further confirmed that those who accused Anjorin-Lawal of theft later admitted in their written statements that the mistake was theirs, as they had given her the wrong account details.

The actress had visited the market in February to purchase gold, but the situation escalated when some traders wrongfully accused her of theft.

A video of the incident, showing her being harassed and assaulted by the traders, circulated on social media. Six traders, identified as Qudus Jokogbola, Suru Olawale, Edu Shakirat, Fausat Mohammed, Kafayat Ahmed, and Opere Simiat Morenike, were subsequently arrested and charged to the Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos Island, for assault and blackmail.

During their arraignment, the accused pleaded not guilty and were granted bail of N200,000 each with one surety. They were later released after meeting the bail conditions.

The case was eventually withdrawn from court after Anjorin-Lawal chose not to pursue the matter further.