The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Uber driver

  • ‘Dead’ UBER driver recounts ordeal in suspects’ hand

    An UBER driver, Ekwomi Charles, given up for dead by his attackers, has lived to tell his story.

    He told Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives that he was dumped in the bush by suspected robbers, who thought he had died after being attacked.

    The suspects, Charles said, made away with his Toyota Camry, 2006 model.

    In a statement yesterday, RRS said three of the suspects had been arrested.

    RRS said they were arrested on Thursday in Lekki, Lagos on their way to sell the car.

    Daniel Alagor, 28, Samuel Effiong, 25, Emeka Okoye, a.k.a Tallest and three other suspects, still at large, on Wednesday night requested for UBER through Alagor’s phone line.

    Supported by one Blessing (still at large), Alagor told Charles to take them to Abijo GRA from Jakande Estate, Lekki around 11pm .

    Midway into the trip, Blessing, according to Alagor, told the driver they were going to a birthday party in Shoprite, Sangotedo, and that they were going to pick two of their colleagues up in Abijo GRA, Ajah.

    Charles said: “I agreed to pick their friends and drop them at the venue of the party as we were already in Abijo GRA. I noticed that their friends were not at the bus stop.

    Read Also: Two suspected robbers mobbed to death in Delta

    “They called their friends and we agreed to move into the estate to meet them on their way. I drove about 100 meters and I didn’t encounter them. I insisted I was going no further.

    “They eventually came and immediately they entered the car, they tied a rope around my neck from the back. Then, all of them started punching me until I passed out. Thinking that I was dead, they took me into the bush and dropped my body near an uncompleted building. They left beside me a knife after tying me. Thank God, I woke up later. I reported at the closest police station and eventually, I learnt RRS men have arrested them.”

    After the incident, the suspects, RRS said, left one of them in Abijo GRA.

    Alagor, Blessing and another suspect, whose identity the RRS is working on, drove the car to Shoprite, Sangotedo to pick Samuel Effiong, who had negotiated with a buyer based in Fashola Estate, Lekki.

    According to Effiong, “Blessing some time ago told me that he wanted to sell a car. He called me on phone around midnight on Wednesday to take him to the person that wanted to buy the car. They picked me up in Shoprite, Sangotedo. I didn’t follow him to where they stole the vehicle.

    “We were close to Fashola Estate, when we ran into RRS patrol vehicle. They stopped us for a check. Blessing and his friend ran away while Alagor and I were arrested. They also arrested the Emeka Okoye, a.k.a Tallest, who wanted to link us to the buyer.”

    The suspects led RRS to where the UBER driver’s body was deposited.

    The officers recovered a kitchen knife, ropes and a cap, reportedly belonging to Blessing.

  • Police arrest Uber driver ‘s alleged killers, recovers car

    Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command have arrested two suspected robbers who allegedly killed an Uber driver and stole his car.

    The Lagos Police spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, said that the suspects were arrested in Aboki Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

    According to a statement by Oti, the suspects were arrested while removing the parts of the stolen Hyundai Elantra car with Reg. No. EPE 676 EC for sale to a scrap metal dealer.

    He said the arrest was carried out following a directive from the new Lagos police boss, CP Zubairu Mu’azu, that the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, should fish out the culprits.

    Oti said investigations by the police revealed that an ex–convict and bus conductor, in company of three others now at large, had conspired to hijack an Uber car and sell it off.

    ”On the said day, the quartet at around 11 p.m. waved down the deceased, Sunday Obasi, in Lekki. They told him they were going to Ikate and he charged them N1,000.

    ”Before getting to their destination, the suspects told the driver that they wanted to ease themselves. It was at this point they descended on the driver.

    ”They killed him and pushed him off the car into the road before driving the car to Beach Road, Lekki, where they hid it for two days while looking for buyer and swapped the number plate of the car with a Volkswagen Passat car (FKJ 708 CA) close by,” he said.

    Oti stated that investigations were continuing on the case, stressing that the command would leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that the fleeing suspect are made to face justice.

    The recovered vandalised Uber car was currently parked at the RRS headquarters, Alausa, while the late driver’s corpse was deposited at a public mortuary. (NAN)

  • Uber driver refuses to ‘pay prostitute N6000 fee’

    A 28-year-old Uber driver, Sunday Omale, was yesterday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly refusing to pay a commercial sex worker.

    Omale, who lives at Alhaja Elesin Street, Ogudu, is facing an assault charge, occasioning bodily harm after having three rounds of sex with Precious Mustapha.

    The accused was alleged to have refused paying the N6, 000 she charged him.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Lucky Ihiehie said the accused committed the offence on July 29 at Ogudu.

    Iheihei said Omale allegedly assaulted the complainant after sleeping with her.

    The prosecutor said the 28-year-old complainant reported the matter to the police.

    Iheihei said the complainant met Omale at the Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, where she charged him N6, 000 after having three rounds of sex with her.

    The prosecution said an argument ensued when Omale claimed he did not have cash on him to pay her.

    He suggested using his ATM card to withdraw for her.

    Iheihei said Omale drove with the complainant round Ikeja and Ogudu axis, without stopping at any bank to use his ATM card.

    The prosecution said Omale also deceived the complainant by driving her to his friend’s house under the pretext of collecting money from him to pay her.

    “Unfortunately the accused’s friend chased him out of his compound. When it became clear to the accused that there was no place where he could get money, he used an object to hit the woman on the head and started beating her,” he said.

    Omale pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje granted the accused N50,000 bail, with two sureties in the like sum.

    The magistrate adjourned till September 25.

  • Uber driver ‘steals’ employer’s car

    A 27-year-old man, Uber driver, James Ejemba, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly absconding with his employer’s Toyota Corolla car valued at N2million.

    Ejemba is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the accused committed the offences with some other persons still at large on February 14 at Ile-Zik Bus Stop, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused stole the car marked SMK 694 EU belonging to one Mrs Ngozi Ireoha.

    Emuerhi said the accused however claimed that the car was stolen by four men who robbed him at gun point along Oshodi Expressway.

    “He said he was attacked, but he failed to report the case to the police until he was arrested,’’ he said.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate O. Sule Amzat granted the accused N200,000 bail with two responsible sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till July 2.

  • Uber driver attempts suicide over N90,000 debt

    Uber driver attempts suicide over N90,000 debt

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad  (RRS) on Sunday saved an Uber driver, Hammed Olojo, 31, from jumping into the lagoon.

    Olojo was restrained from committing suicide on the Third Mainland Bridge by an officer who monitored his movement.

    According to the police, the driver attempted to kill himself because a debt of N90,000 hung on his neck.

    It was gathered that he drove a grey Toyota Corolla car marked EKY312ES belonging to Kalejaiye Oluwaseyi to the bridge, parked and made to skid into the lagoon before he was restrained.

    He was said to have left a suicide note in Yoruba which when translated read: “I killed myself because of the challenges I have been facing in life. I tried my best and everything has come to nothing.

    Upon questioning by RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police  (ACP) Olojo said he was owing a creditor at Ikeja High Court three N10,000 and N80,000 to the vehicle’s owner.

    The police said Olojo stated he was frustrated by difficulty, adding that he had tried to survive without success.

    Oluwaseyi, who was at the RRS office said the driver had not remitted the N40,000 weekly amount for the lease of the vehicle for two weeks.

    He however said he never pressured him but only told him to return the car keys last Thursday.

    Police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent  (ASP) confirmed the story, adding that the case has been moved to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for investigation.

  • We killed Uber driver to steal his vehicle — Suspect

    We killed Uber driver to steal his vehicle — Suspect

    Detectives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two suspects who posed as passengers and killed an Uber driver, in an attempt to steal his vehicle.

    The suspects and one other, who is at large, strangled the driver, Innevosa Emmanuel and disposed him of his KIA RIO salon car marked KTU 594DM.

    The suspects always go after uber drivers with the intention of killing them and stealing their cars, to resell them to new buyers.

    The suspects boarded the vehicle from Ikeja to take them to Ogba, Oke-Ira during which they suddenly ordered the driver to make a U-turn and take them to Oremeji Street, Obawole area of Ogba, where he was strangled with a belt by the robbers and the vehicle was driven away.

    According to one of the suspects, he said they were three that participated in the killing of the driver.

    “I and Michael met at Ogba where I went to drink and we became friends. I told him how difficult things were for me that I needed to relocate to Benin to start all over again.

    “It was at this point that Michael told me about a deal that could fetch me some money that we could get a car and then sell it to his boss.

    “Michael then told me about one Alex (Emmanuel) who had a vehicle and we agreed to meet the following day. Since then we had been meeting and discussing how to buy the vehicle.

    “On the fateful day, the Uber driver came, I was with Michael in his office and his friend Destiny was with him but I don’t know if he discussed the vehicle deal with Destiny.

    “Around 9:30p.m, we called the Uber driver to come and pick us at Tantalizer eatery at Ogba. I and Destiny were inside the vehicle with the driver, but Michael was outside while I was holding the belt.

    “Immediately I put the belt around the driver’s neck, Destiny dragged the belt and we strangled him. When we were satisfied that he was dead, we took his corpse to Oremeji Street and dumped him in front of a church around 10:30 p.m., without anybody noticing us.

    “After killing the driver, we took the vehicle to Michael’s boss to sell it. The buyer then inquired from us where we got the vehicle from and Michael told him that we killed the owner.

    “The buyer then said we should take the car away and Michael said we should take it to his house and park it outside, before taking it to another buyer in Benin.

    “Later we were tracked to Benin, arrested and brought back to Lagos.” the suspect said.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects at the Command headquarters, said the command received a report of a missing Uber driver, whose car was stolen and the driver missing.

    Owoseni said since then, it has been an issue of concern and detectives through their sustained efforts towards the missing driver, two days ago arrested two suspects in connection with the missing driver.

    “The suspects posed as passengers strangled the Uber driver and dumped his remains at Ogba and the vehicle was taken to Delta State, where it was recovered and the suspects arrested.”

    The Police boss said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

  • Uber driver ‘steals’ passenger’s N235,000 phone

    A driver with American online car hire service firm, Uber, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing his passenger’s N235,000 phone.

    Mobosi Ikechukwu, 32, was arraigned before Mr B. A. Sonuga.

    Prosecuting Corporal Friday Mameh said Ikechukwu was assigned by the transport network firm to pick up Mrs Fatima Eshotune, who requested for a driver on the night of February 28.

    Ikechukwu picked her up in his Toyota Corolla saloon car marked SMK124EJ, and along the way, she requested to charge her phone on a device in the car.

    The police said the complainant forgot the phone, a gold Samsung Galaxy S6 valued at N235,000, in the car when she got off at about 8:10pm, at 16, Agodogba Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

    The defendant denied seeing the phone.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 287 (9)(c) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Sonuga granted him N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till May 15.