MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police officers at the Area G Command, Ogba, Lagos State, had a nasty experience after a 22-year old suspected criminal, Alibah Ibrahim, dislodged officers on duty and carted away 16 lengths of iron rod kept as exhibits and escaped.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident, which happened on 29th January, 2024, at the Command, threw the Police officere into confusion especially the senior Police officers who felt they were no longer safe inside the Command.
According to Police sources, the suspect, Ibrahim, monitored the movement of the Police officers on duty and discovered that they had a rather poor security arrangement. He then went and carted away the items and escaped despite the fact that some Police officers were on duty.
The suspect, Ibrahim, was successful in the operation by escaping with the items under investigation. In the morning, when the owner of the items came to the Command for the release of the items, it was discovered that they were missing and the Police were unable to explain how they got missing.
The owner of the items insisted that if the items were actually missing, that means it was the Police officers on duty that might have stolen them and his statement caused serious embarrassment to the Police at the Command.
It was not certain how the Area Commander resolved the matter before information leaked that it was the suspect, Ibrahim, that actually came in the evening and stole the items.
He was subsequently arrested and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing exhibits under investigation under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of the State.
However, he pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then 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. B.O Osunsanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.