The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘steals

  • Woman ‘steals’ child at Redemption Camp

    Woman ‘steals’ child at Redemption Camp

    The police have arrested a woman, Anuoluwapo Joshua, 28, for allegedly stealing a three-year-old girl at the  Redemption Camp off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Joshua was arrested on December 29 after Akamaka Francis was seen during the church’s end of year children’s party.

    It was gathered that the child was stolen from her mother in July at the monthly Holy Ghost Congress.

    According to the police, the mother had left the little girl and went to the church’s new auditorium to pack their belongings.

    When she returned, the child was gone and she reported the matter to the church’s security, said the police.

    “All efforts to find the child failed. The suspect ran out of luck on Friday when the child was sighted inside the youth centre at the Redemption Camp during the children’s end of year party.

    “On receiving the information, the DPO, Redeemed Division, Olaiya Martins, a Superintendent of Police (SP), led detectives to the centre where they waited until the end of the programme.

    “The suspect came out to pick the child and was promptly arrested. She confessed to the crime. She admitted that she lured the child out of her parents’ sight and took her to Ofada, where she has been caring for her.

    “Investigation further revealed that the suspect had earlier got pregnant for somebody in Lagos but travelled to the North where she claimed she was delivered of a baby girl. But when she came back from the North, she didn’t come with the baby.

    “This made the man who impregnated her to pressure her to bring his child for him. She later informed her relatives that she was going to Nasarawa State to bring the child but went to Redemption Camp, stayed for some days before stealing the child. She presented her to her relatives as her daughter.

    “The Commissioner of Police (CP), Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution,” said Abimbola Oyeyemi, the command’s spokesman.

  • Man, 32, ‘steals’ N230,000 from boy, 17

    A man, who allegedly hypnotised a 17-year-old boy and stole his N230,000, was yesterday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Sunday Omoloye, 32, was arraigned before Mrs A. T. Omoyele on a three-count charge of fraud, obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant CyriacusOsuji said Omoloye and others at large committed the offence on May 31 at Ikate in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

    The defendant, he alleged, fraudulently obtained N230,000 from the teenager, who was sent by his mother to deposit the money in her customers bank account.

    Osuji said: “When the teenager got to the bank, the place was filled up so he decided to try another branch, but as he came out of the bank, the defendant and others at large met and touched him.

    “He immediately lost his senses and later found himself with the defendant and others at Aboki Estate, Ikate, close to Eleguish Beach.

    “As soon as he regained his senses, he raised the alarm and passers-by apprehended the defendant while the others fled.”

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Omoyele granted him N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned till July 7, for mention.

  • GTB worker ‘steals’ N8.4m from customers’ accounts

    GTB worker ‘steals’ N8.4m from customers’ accounts

    A Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) worker has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N8,449,000 from two customers’ accounts.

    Abidemi Wasiu, who works with GTB, Oshogbo branch in Osun State, was arraigned before Magistrate. O. O. Owunmi  on Wednesday.

    The Nation learnt that the defendant was arrested by officers from the Bar Beach Police Division, following a complaint from the bank’s headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh alleged that the defendant committed the offences between November and last month at the bank’s Lagos headquarters.

    Mameh said the defendant, without authority, unlawfully withdrew N4,000,000 from the account of Ogunmade Victoria and N4,449,000.00 from the account of Olalekan Abiola.

    Wasiu allegedly transferred the N8,449,000 to the accounts of his friends, Ojeleye Tawakalitu and Wisdom Marshal Njoku, from where he withdrew all the money and shared it with them.

    According to Mameh, the offences contravene Sections 411, 337(a) and 287(7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

    Wasiu pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Owunmi granted him N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Owunmi directed the sureties to deposit N200,000 each with the court’s registrar He adjourned till June 6.

  • Deaf and dumb ‘steals’ car

    The police have arrested a man Godspower  Eriemo, said to be deaf and dump, for alleged car theft.
    Eriemo, 31, was said to have stolen a Toyota Sienna car marked KJA351CJ belonging to Mrs Blessing Bassey.
    The woman, it was gathered gave the suspect her car to wash at 17, Oluwashina Street, Odo Eran, Itire.
    But the suspect allegedly duplicated the keys and planned how to steal the car.
    He subsequently went to the woman’s 55, Oduselu Street, Itire home and drove the car away.
    Detectives from Area D arrested him with the car at Ikorodu.

  • Security guard breaks into employer’s home, steals property worth N20.9m

    A 20-year- old security guard from Chibok community, Borno State, James Jacob, has been arrested by the police for allegedly carting away property worth millions of naira from his employer’s Lagos apartment.

    The suspect, according to police source, conspired with an accomplice and broke into the house, while his employer (name withheld) had gone to church on Sunday February 19, 2017, in the Ebute Meta area of Lagos.

    The suspect was said to have used soft blade to cut the building’s burglary proof and entered the house.

    It was said that he switched off electricity supply into the building in order to prevent close circuit camera from capturing him.

    It was gathered that he took away two laptops worth N400,000, 17 wrist watches worth N8million, two pairs of men shoes valued N150,000, a box containing jewelleries worth N12million and N400,000 cash, bringing the total value of what he stole to N20. 9 million.

    The police further revealed that the suspect moved the items from the building on a motorcycle with the aid of one of his brothers.

    He was however exposed by a close circuit camera installed in a neighbouring building which revealed how he broke into the house and took away his employers’ belongings.

    It was gathered that Jacob switched off his mobile telephone and bolted.

    The source said the victim came back later in the evening to discover that his house had been burgled and almost all his property stolen, while the security guard was nowhere to be found.

    The incident was reported to Maroko Police Station, while the case was later transferred to D12 Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Lagos, for investigation.

    Operatives of SCID later arrest the suspect in Chibok town, Bornu State, where he had gone to enjoy his loot.

    It was gathered that some of the items he stole had been recovered him.

    Meanwhile, the suspect has been arraigned before an Oyingbo Magistrate’s Court, Ebute Metta, Lagos, on three count charge.

    He was remanded in Kirikiri Prison, while the case was adjourned to March 27.

  • My husband steals my money, wife tells court

    My husband steals my money, wife tells court

    An Agodi Customary Court, Ibadan, yesterday ended the marriage between Kazeem and Mary Eniola.
    Mary, a housewife, told the court that her husband habitually stole her money.
    Testifying in a divorce proceedings against Kazeem, Mary said her 15-year-old union was characterised by acts of irresponsibility from him.
    “I shouldered the responsibility as regards feeding, school fees payment and welfare of the kids, instead of him to appreciate my struggle for the care, he was in the habit of stealing my money.
    “He beat me as he likes and packed out of our home to impregnate another woman.
    “Your Honour, I am tired of his shameful acts, victimisation and embarrassment,” she said.
    Kazeem denied the allegations and pleaded with the court not to grant his wife’s request.
    He said he had nobody to assist in catering for the three children, if the divorce suit was granted.
    The court’s president, Mukaila Balogun, granted the divorce, holding that there was no love between the couple.
    Balogun awarded custody of the three children to Mary and directed the respondent to be pay N9,000 monthly for their maintenance.

  • Driver ‘steals’ ex-boss car to fund siblings Xmas expenses

    Driver ‘steals’ ex-boss car to fund siblings Xmas expenses

    A 24–year old driver Abass Ope accused of stealing his ex-boss’ car, Television (TV) sets and a pet dog, has confessed that Christmas needs of his siblings pushed him into the stealing.

    Ope was arrested at Ojuelegba by the Decoy Team of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Boxing Day.

    He was picked up by the police while trying to sell off his ex-boss’s Toyota Avensis 2013 model with marked AGL 734 AR for N2 million.

    Arrested along with him were three of his friends, Balogun Oluwaseun, 23, Sanni Azeez, 23 and Stephen Ewiele, 22.

    Ope had during  Christmas period stormed his ex-boss Magodo home while he and his family were holidaying in Delta State, with a conspirator to move a 100 inches LCD TV, another 42 inches LCD TV, a dog, a suitcase, two DSTV decoders and a Toyota Avensis, from the home.

    The suspect went to the house after learning that he ex-boss had travelled and that the gatekeeper had also gone to church.

    Te suspect, it was learnt, was aware of where the man usually kept keys to his rooms.

    It was revealed that his ex–boss, Ifoghale Ekinodo on getting report of missing vehicle and property called the suspect on more than two occasions to intimate him of the development but he denied knowledge of the incidence.

    Ekinodo had to cut short his holiday in Delta with his family to report the incident at Magodo Police Station.

    An RRS official later called him to notify him of the recovery of his vehicle.

    RRS quoted Abass as saying: “I took the car because I had no money to take care of myself and younger ones. They had no clothes, no shoes and this is Yuletide season. They looked up to me to take care of these expenses.

    “It was about three months now that I left Mr Ekinodo. I had worked for him for four years before leaving him in August. I left because he had a little challenge and things were pretty tough for him. I left so that he could have himself sorted out.

    “He was a very nice boss to work with. He enrolled me into university but I couldn’t continue the education when I left him. While he had this challenge, he owed me eight months salary; this prompted me to take his property and the vehicle.

    “The auto dealer wanted to pay N2 million for the car but I insisted on N4 Million because I know it is worth more than that. He offered me N1million instantly and that the balance would be ready in about few minutes time, but I decided to ignore the offer hoping that the dealer would call me back for a re-negotiation.

    “I went back to Ojuelegba few hours later in company of three of my friends, that was when RRS operatives arrested us.”

    Ekinodo said: “I am in shock. This is a guy I treated like a son. Apart from my wife, he was the closest person to me. This is a guy that did my shopping for me. Even, before I buy anything for myself, I bought for him first. How can I owe him eight– month salary when he never worked for me in those periods? Did he inform me that I owed him? He was never in my house in the periods he claimed. I called him more than twice when I got the report of the break in. He told me he knew nothing about it. If he had told me he needed money, I would have given him because we were still very close despite the fact that he was no longer working for me.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) urged members of the public to always do a background check of their domestic staff so as not to expose themselves to criminals.

    She said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Yaba, for further investigation.

  • Suspect ‘steals’ from policewoman

    A Suspected pickpocket, Deji Ayoola, 20, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at the weekend, has allegedly stole N1,200 belonging to a policewoman.

    Ayoola was arrested at Ojodu Berger, after pickin a commuter’s wallet containing N14,500.

    It was gathered that his victim was about boarding a commercial bus enroute Redemption Camp, when the incident occurred. The victim, it was learnt, never knew that his wallet had been snatched until it was time to pay his fare.

    Unknown to Ayoola, policemen patrolling the area saw him commit the crime; apprehended him while he was running and took him to RRS headquarters for questioning.

    The police, it was learnt, saw the victim’s telephone number in the wallet and contacted him to come for it at the RRS office.

    During interrogation, Ayoola who blamed the devil for snatching the commuter’s purse, allegedly picked the N1,200, which fell off the police woman’s pocket when she brought out her phone.

    He was said to have stylishly hidden it but didn’t know that another suspect saw him.

    Ayoola, according to the police, was exposed by the suspect who told the policewoman her money was with him.

    Contacted, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the suspect has been transferred to the State Environmental Task fforce on Environment for prosecution.

  • Chef ‘steals’ lover’s N100,000

    Chef ‘steals’ lover’s N100,000

    A 28-year-old chef, Emmanuel Udoh, who allegedly stole his girlfriend’s N100,000, was yesterday  granted a N100,000 bail.

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, which gave the ruling, also asked Udoh to provide two sureties in like sum as part of the bail condition.

    Magistrate Omolade Awope said the sureties must, in addition, show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The accused, who resides on 34, Ofada Street, Mowe, Ogun, is facing a charge of stealing.

    Earlier, prosecuting Inspector Ezekiel Ayorinde told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 1 on 11 Olusoji Street, College road, Ogba, Lagos.

    He said the accused went to the complainant’s house (name withheld) and stole the money, while she was at work.

    “The accused sometimes spend some nights in the complainant’s house because he claimed he had accommodation problem.

    “After she had left for work, he collected the key from where it was usually kept and stole the money from her bag,” he said.

    The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for offenders.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till October 10.

     

  • Man ‘steals’ benefactor’s car for forgetting his birthday

    Man ‘steals’ benefactor’s car for forgetting his birthday

    A 24-year-old man, Richard Akinwale, has been arrested by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for allegedly stealing a Black SAAB saloon car, marked AAA 581 CG, belonging to his benefactor, Tolani Adelabu. Akinwale told the operatives that he stole the car “to punish Adelabu for forgetting his birthday.”

    Akinwale, was trailed from Iju road, Fagba area, for about five hours by the RRS operatives before he was eventually arrested on Wempco road in Agidingbi.

    A drop-out from Northern American University in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Akinwale was said to have gained entrance into the living room of Adelabu through the ceiling to pick the car keys and some valuables.

    At the RRS’s headquarters, the suspect told the operatives that he stole the car and other valuables deliberately to punish his benefator.

    Akinwale said Adelabu has been the sole financier of his university education, adding that the former picked him up when everybody rejected him.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “I was accommodated in Adelabu’s house about five years ago. He sponsored my educational career before I dropped out from the institution at final year. His wife was also very supportive. But I deliberately committed the offence because they also asked me to move out of their house.”

    The Nation learnt that the suspect, who had in the past stole the same vehicle along with other personal effects of the Adelabus pleaded for mercy before they secured his release at the Ogonbo Police division in Ajah area.

    “This is the second time I stole the car. The first time was on my birthday on July 8. I took the car far away from their sight. I wanted to part ways with them with the car to start a new life on my own. I think I deserve the car because I had laboured for them for long time, and they can’t just eject me like that. They must pay me back with that car,” he added.

    Adelabu said that he regretted helping Akinwale by accommodating him.

    He said: “I don’t know any of his relatives. It was my brother-in-law who brought him from Church camp. Then, I noticed that he needed accommodation and financial support, I offered him without asking him to bring any of his relatives.

    “He used to be a jovial and kind person before he left for his university education in Benin Republic, but I discovered immediately after he returned to the country, his life style suddenly changed for bad.

    “When I noticed this, I talked to him as a father and advised him to have a change of mind. While talking to him, he opened up that he was no longer interested in going back to the institution, and I asked him why, he never told the reason till now.

    “I sent him out because I don’t want him to corrupt my children because they are grown-ups too”

    “On Monday July 10, my wife called me that she couldn’t find the car again. She explained the suspect had gained entrance to our living room, took the car key and had absconded with it again despite the fact that we had changed all the keys to our apartment. But I was shocked to know that, he went through the ceiling this time around after entering the compound.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said the suspect has been transferred to Lagos State Task Force on Environment for prosecution.