Police Bust Notorious Armed Car Snatching Syndicate During Operation

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested four suspected members of notorious armed car snatching syndicate including a woman, who specialized in snatching vehicles and valuables materials in the State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Fatai Lawal, 36, Lawal Michael, 22, Ibrahim Saliu, 28 and a woman, Jackson Magdalene, were said to have been terrorizing the residents of Iba and its environs over a period and have escaped arrest severally.

However, they were arrested along lyana Isashi-lyana Iba Road in Lagos State after they robbed one Chinedu Matthew on gun point and made away with a Suzuki mini bus with registration number AAA 542 YF yellow in colour property of one Agwevel Omoruyi.

The operatives from Onilekere Division recovered locally made pistol and live ammunition from them as exhibits.

The suspects were consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms under the Criminal Laws of the State.

The charges read:

“That you, Fatai Lawal ‘m, Lawal Micheal ‘m, Ibrahim Saliu ‘m’, Jackson Magdalene ‘F’ and others now at large on the 9th August, 2024 at about 2145hrs along lyana Isashi-lyana Iba Road in the Lagos State Magisterial district, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit robbery and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 299 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II: that you, Fatai Lawal ‘m’ Lawal Micheal ‘m’ Ibrahim Saliu ‘m’, Jackson Magdalene ‘F’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the forementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully possess a prohibited fire arm locally made pistol with four live cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 51 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

OUNT III: that you, Fatai Lawal ‘m’ Lawal Micheal ‘m’ Ibrahim Saliu ‘m’ Jackson Magdalene ‘F’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the forementioned magisterial district, did rob one Chinedu Matthew on gun point and made away with a Suzuki mini bus with registration number AAA 542 YF yellow in colour roperty of one Agwevel Omoruyi and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 297 (2)(a) of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

The Court did not take their plea when they were arraigned after the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date and refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, ordered their remand in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s legal advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.