Uche Okpara

Cyriacus Izuekwe

A 34-year old man has been arrested and charged before an Isolo magistrate’s court for stealing N90,000 from a 38-year old sex worker after engaging her in sex for a fee in a hotel in Lagos State western Nigeria.

Abia state born Uche Okpara offered and paid an Edo state born Caroline Ibrahim N500 for sex for a night (popularly called “till-day-break”) in her room. According to Caroline, Okpara engaged her into rounds of sex so much that she became weak and slept off. She said when she woke up, Okpara went to where she kept her money in her bag, stole it and escaped. The incident happened on 30 December 2015 at a popular guest house located at 4 Aborishade street, Lawanson in Lagos where she operates.

When Caroline later woke up, she did not see Okpara again and when she went to the bag where she kept her money, it was torn and the money had been taken away. She revealed that she had hoped to use the money to start another business after which she would leave prostitution and settle down to marry.

Since then, Okpara has been into hiding until police trailed, arrested and charged him to court on Tuesday.

Abia state born Okpara admitted that he engaged the woman in sex but denied that he stole her money as she claimed. But he did not explain why he left the room in the middle of the night without informing her. The matter was reported to the police at Itire division and Okpara was arrested and charged to court with stealing under the criminal code. He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Shonubi granted Okpara bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum.

Okpara was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he will perfect his bail.
The matter was adjourned till 18 January 2016 for trial.