MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Police at Gowon Estate Division led by the DPO, SP Owolabi Sefunmi, have arrested a 47-year old man, Ojewole Oyewole, who allegedly posed as a Lagos State Judiciary Court Sheriff, broke into a tenant’s shop and carted away items worth over N9m in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on the 7th day of February 2025, at Federal Bus Stop, Old Road by Mr Biggs, Gowon Estate, Alimosho, Lagos.
He was arrested and charged for conspiracy, malicious damage, impersonation and stealing over his alleged conduct against the complainant, Mrs. Yetunde Malachi Toyin.
According to the Police, the suspect conspired with other accomplices now at large and claimed that he had a Court Order from the Lagos High Court to eject her from the shop.
Hence, they started throwing out some unmovable items, stole some of them and bolted away with the items said to worth the amount of money in question.
The complainant suspected their action and reported to the Police at the Gowon Estate Division and the DPO directed the officers to investigate if there was actually a Court judgment and enforcement to the effect as claimed by the suspect.
During the investigation, Police findings revealed that the suspect was not a Sheriff of the Court as he claimed and he stole the items while carrying out the illegal ejection.
He was subsequently arrested and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Ojewole Oyewole “M” and others now at large on the 7th day of February, 2025, at about 12:00hrs, at Federal Bus Stop, Old Road by Mr Biggs, Gowon Estate, Alimosho, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: conspiracy, conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace, criminal damage, stealing and impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 411 and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT 2:”That you, Ojewole Oyewole a.k.a as AWOLOWO “M” and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by forcefully entering into the shop of one Yetunde Malachi Toyin “F” without permission or observing due process and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168(d) and punishable under Section 168 of the criminal law of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT 3:”That you, Ojewole Oyewole “M” popularly known as AWOLOWO and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did impersonate yourself as a staff of Lagos State High Court Ikeja Judicial Division Sheriff Officer, knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 380 and punishable under Section 380 (2) of the criminal law of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT 4:”That you, Ojewole Oyewole “M” popularly known as AWOLOWO and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did enter into a shop owned by one Yetunde Malachi Toyin “F” and forcefully threw out all her properties and caused damage to the LG Smart TV 45 inches value about Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) only, Tecno POP 8 Phone Screen value Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00)only, Chairs and Tables value about One Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,600,000.00) only and assorted alcoholic drinks, juice drinks, soft drinks, Beverages and other valuable items all value Two Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (N2,970,000.00) only and all total sum of Five Million One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (N5,130,000.00) only and thereby committed an offence contrary co Section 350 and punishable under Section 339 of the criminal law of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT 5:”That YOU, Ojewole Oyewale “M” and others now at large on the same one and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal assorted can drinks value about Two Million (N2,000,000.00), different Network recharge card MTN- One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00), Airtel One Hundred and arty Naira (N140,000.00), GLO Forty Thousand Naira (N40,000.00), Etislat Twenty Thousand Naira and cash sum six Hundred thousand all total sum of Two million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,900,000.00) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 380 and punishable under Section 380 (2) of the criminal law of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.