Police Nabs Suspected Serial ‘Danfo’ Bus Thief

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS at Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos have arrested a suspect, Sharafa Arobieke, 29, said to specialise in stealing popular Lagos Yellow-Painted commercial bus popularly called Danfo parked by their owners around Ajegunle, Ojo and other parts of Lagos State.

The suspect was also alleged to be selling the stolen buses to unsuspecting members of the public at give away price.
Nemesis however caught up with the suspect when a victim, Mr. Boyejo Adetayo, a resident of Oyedeji Street, Ajegunle, Lagos reported to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP in charge of FSARS, Lagos, Ibrahim Kaoje that unknown persons had stolen his Vokswagen bus valued at N2million with Reg. No FKJ 786 XV he parked beside his residence.

Police source said following the report, DCP Kaoje directed a crack team led by CSP Oluseye Odunbaku to do all they could to recover the stolen bus and arrest the suspects behind the theft.

Following the directive, Odunbaku swung into action with his men and after days of intelligence gathering arrested the suspect with the stolen bus at Ajegunle, Lagos where he allegedly displayed the bus for sale and took him to the Station.

During investigation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and said to be specialised in stealing buses from where the owners park them.

Arobieke was charged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on a two Count charge of felony to Wit. stealing.

Police counsel, Abraham Fadipe said in charge No J/37/2018 that the offences, the accused committed were punishable under sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Arobieke, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime and Magistrate A.A Famobiwo granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a blood relation.

Famobiwo told the defendant in the open Court: “The N100,000 bail granted you is not a cash payment to anybody. The Court would only compel the payment of the money to the Lagos State Government in case you the defendant or those who would stand as sureties for you jumped bail and so do not allow anybody to deceive you to pay the bail sum in cash.”

Famobiwo then adjourned the case till June 16 for mention and ordered that the defendant be taken to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos till he perfected the bail conditions.