MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested three suspects for their alleged involvement in the stealing and buying of a stolen Toyota SUV at give away price by the suspected armed robbers at Lekki area of the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Stanley Osabuohien Friday, 32, Eric Kofi 40 and Felix Sinjae, 50 and others now at large were alleged to have conspired to steal and receive stolen property before they were arrested by the Police.
Friday was alleged to have stolen one RAV 4 SUV, Orange Colour with chassis number: 2T3WF1EW108695 and Registration Number: AGL13HB valued N13,000,000.00 property of Obagbemi Oluwasola and sold it to Kofi and Sinjae at give away price.
The SUV in question got missing and the owner reported to the Police. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the key suspect, Friday, who confessed and took them to the buyers Eric Kofi ‘m’, Felix Sinjae and they were arrested and detained for interrogation.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Eric Kofi ‘m’, Felix Sinjae ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did dishonestly receive or retain one RAV 4 SUV, Orange Colour with chassis number: 2T3WF1EW108695, Registration Number: AGL13HB valued N13,000,000.00) property of Obagbemi Oluwasola ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
That you Stanley Osabuohien Friday ‘m’, Eric Kofi ‘m’, Felix Sinjae ‘m’ and others now at large on 6th day of August, 2024 between 1600hrs and 20:00hrs at Ikate/Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to Wit, Stealing and receiving stolen property and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.”
“That you, Stanley Osabuohien Friday, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal one RAV 4 SUV, Orange Colour with chassis number: 2T3WF1EW108695. Registration Number: AGL13HB valued N13,000,000.00 property of Obagbemi Oluwasola ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
“That you, Eric Kofi ‘m’, Felix Sinjae ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did dishonestly receive or retain one RAV 4 SUV Orange Colour with chassis number: 2T3WF1EW108695, Registration Number: AGL13HB valued N13,000,000.00 property of Obagbemi Oluwasola ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
They pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted them bail in the sum of N1m each with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.