Cook Imprisoned in Kirikiri for 13 Months Over Alleged ₦1.5M Food Order Theft, Family Cries for Justice

A heartbreaking story of alleged injustice has emerged from FESTAC Town, Lagos, as David Cosmos, a cook from Akwa Ibom State, remains in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison for over 13 months following accusations of theft at his former workplace, Native Food Limited.

David, who had been employed by the company’s CEO, Mr. Robert Uko, for over four years, was accused in May 2024 of cooking and selling unauthorized food orders and pocketing the proceeds.

He was arrested and charged, and the company reportedly demanded that he repay ₦1.5 million in losses.

However, David’s cousin, Godswill Isaac, has come forward to dispute the allegations, calling them false and malicious. In an interview, Godswill, a former staff of the restaurant, claimed that David had only prepared a food order based on entries visible on the company’s system.

He said a fellow staff member confirmed that the order was legitimate but delayed in being picked up, prompting confusion.

“The CEO arrived and questioned the order. Despite staff explanations, his son, who manages the restaurant, assaulted David and branded him a thief,” Godswill recounted.

The situation escalated when David was taken to the office and accused of causing all financial losses within the company. He was subsequently handed over to authorities and charged with theft. Despite denying the charges, David has remained in prison without bail for over a year.

Godswill revealed that the family, which lives in a poor village in Akwa Ibom, is struggling to raise the funds needed to seek legal help and secure David’s release. He expressed frustration that the CEO has ignored multiple attempts to contact him for resolution.

“My people are poor. They don’t even know the full story,” he lamented. “We can’t raise the money to get to Lagos, and no one is listening to us.”

This troubling case has raised fresh concerns about access to justice for the poor and abuse of corporate power in Nigeria.