MICHAEL AKINOLA
The arrest of a 60-year old woman, Adenike Bilikis Okunbanjo, at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly diverting 99 pieces of iPhones worth over N14.8m shipped from abroad, may have exposed the porous security situation at the various airports in Nigeria.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mrs. Okunbanjo went to the airport and allegedly diverted the items worth the said amount while the security officers were in place without any trace until the owner raised alarm over the missing items.
According to Police sources, the owner of the items, Bolaji Ogunsanya, shipped the items from J.F Kennedy International Airport in United States of America to Nigeria and was waiting to clear the items at the airport before they got missing without any trace.
When the items got missing at the airport and there appeared no trace, the matter was reported to the Police at the airport, who went into action, arrested Mrs. Okunbajo and detained her for interrogation over the theft.
The Police did not state how they arrived at the conclusion that it was the suspect and others at large who stole the items and did not equally state if they actually recovered the stolen items.
However, after thorough interrogation, the Police found her culpable and subsequently charged her before the Ogba Magistrates Court for conspiracy and stealing.
When she was arraigned, she pleaded not guilty before the Court.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunssanmi, granted her bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood.
The matter was adjourned till 28th September, 2022, for mention while she was remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.