Electrician Arrested For Allegedly Stealing Airtel’s N5.5M Handset

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A 45-year old Babatunde Lasisi, who claimed to be a member of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Olive Tree Parish, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos and an electrician attached with Airtel Communications building, Ikoyi, Lagos has been arrested for allegedly conniving with eight others to steal 123 pieces of ZTE handsets valued at N5,535,000 belonging to Airtel Communications Nigeria Limited.

Police identified other suspects as Afolayan Adewale Olatunsobun, 25, Sampson Okwoli, 23, Atim Bernard, 30, Abdulateef Tanimola, 25.

Others include Nwafor Obinna James, 20, Joseph Michael Onyeka, 25, Abdulfatah Zubair, 28 and Hannah Dominic, 46.

It was gathered that trouble began for Lasisi when he started stealing handsets belonging to the telecoms company in cartons between 1 and 25 November, 2016 and distributing them to other suspects to help him to sell.

Nemesis, however, caught up with Lasisi when the management of Airtel observed that there was some shortage in the cartoons of the handsets they kept in their store.

The management then decided to playback the CCTV cameras and there they saw the suspect, Lasisi, stealing those items.

Following the development, Airtel management reported the matter to the DPO in charge of Ikoyi division, SP Tijani Mustapha, who directed a team led by Inspector Itafor Ernest to fish out the entire suspects involved in the racket.

Lasisi was arrested and during investigation he allegedly confessed to the crime and led the police to arrest eight others in all parts of Lagos.

After investigation, Lasisi, a resident of Orile Balogun Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos and others were arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court on three count charge of stealing.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Okete Ejima, said the offenses are punishable under sections 409, 285(1) and 326(1)(3) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.

All the accused however pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime and magistrate Mrs. O. G. Oghre, admitted them to bail in the sum of N5m each with one surety each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till 27 April, 2017 for mention.

All the defendants were, however, taken to Ikoyi prison, Lagos pending when they will fulfill their bail conditions.