BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE
A 55-year-old suspected stolen goods receiver, Aliyu Idris has been arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Police Zone 2 Command, Lagos and charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly receiving and diverting a stolen N200 million agro chemical belonging to Agro Chemical Nigeria limited.
Police alleged that Agro Chemical Nigeria Limited, the complainant, hired a truck from Apapa, Lagos to transport the chemical from Sagamu in Ogun State to a customer in Minna, Niger State but the driver of the truck allegedly connived with others now on the run to divert the chemical and allegedly sold the chemical to Idris, the defendant, knowing full well that the items were stolen.
Police further alleged that when the Complainant didn’t hear from the truck driver about his journey and his phones were no longer going through, the management of the company suspected a foul play and quickly petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh incharge of Zone 2 Command, who swiftly gave a marching order to his crack detectives to smoke out the fleeing truck driver and his cohorts and recover the goods from them.
Following the directive, according to the police, the AIG team swung into action and arrested the defendant at a hide out in Lagos through intelligence gathering.
After investigation by Inspector Andrew Modom and his team, the defendant, a resident of Alaba Rago area of Okokomaiko, Lagos was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on Conspiracy and stealing.
Police prosecuting Counsel, ASP Reuben Solomon who stood in for ASP Jimoh Joseph informed the Court in the charge Marked P/14/2026 that the defendant and others still at large committed the offence on 28 July, 2025 at Otto Wharf, Mile 2, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.
Solomon told the Court that the defendant received and bought the diverted goods knowing full well that the chemical was stolen.
He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate, Mrs. Oseni granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
Oseni adjourned the case till 5 May, 2026 for mention and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi correctional facility, Lagos till he perfected the bail conditions.