Nollywood actress,Yetunde Akilapa, was on Thursday sent to Kirikiri Prison, Apapa, Lagos for allegedly being in possession of 100 master keys. Miss Akilapa was on Wednesday detained at the Alade Divisional Police headquarters in Somolu, Lagos following a complaint lodged by a complainant, accusing the actress of stealing the 100 master keys found on her.
According to a statement written by her at the police headquarters, it was not the first time the suspect would be accused of stealing.
She said: “There was a day she came home to see my relative and when I opened her bag after she went to the toilet I found a phone that was later found to have been stolen. We seized the phone from her and returned it to the owner despite her denying that she did not steal the phone.”
When the case came up at the Magistrate’s Court in Somolu on Thursday, the police prosecutor, Inspector Anyanwu, told the court that Miss Akilapa was arrested by a mob that accused her of conspiracy and stealing of bunches of keys.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, is punishable under section 383, 516 and 517 criminal code of Lagos state.
In her response to the charge during the court session, the accused, who claimed to be trained by popular actor Abbey Lanre, said: “I have featured in about five films including Aiyelaba.
“I produced Bunmi Akata which I use a bunch of 100 keys to act. I am also a makeup artist.
“On the day I was arrested, a woman named Mama Ayoola, called me and said that I should bring weaveon for her. I did not know Mama Ayoola was not living at that compound. When I got there, I asked a girl about Mama Ayoola and she directed me to knock on the next door.
“ An Igbo man peeped from the door and said Mama Ayo was not living there. And as I was about going out, the mob pounced on me, searched my bags and found the hundred keys with the weaveon. They later handed me over to the policemen at Alade Divisional headquarters.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the magistrate, Justice Mrs. E.A. Adekomaya, granted her bail in the sum of N14,000 with two sureties who must own a landed property in Lagos, with evidence of paying tax to Lagos state government.
The case was adjourned till 12 March, 2013, while the defendant was moved to Kirikiri prison in Apapa, Lagos pending when she could perfect her bail conditions.