By Chiemelie Ezeobi
The Lagos State Police Command today paraded five suspects, including the security guard attached to the Honda Place Company, along Apapa/ Oshodi Expressway, one Sani Garba, for the alleged theft of spare parts worth about N28M.
The security guard had in connivance with others suspects; Godwin Okwudili, Obinna Ilojebe, Ndubuisi Ike and Anthony Etemah, stolen Honda auto spare parts valued at N23,987,756, one Samsung spilt 2HP air conditioner valued at N77,500.
The suspects also made away with the sum of N781,115, one 150KVA generator valued at 3,800,000 and one 8KVA generator valued at N90,000, totaling
N28,826,371.
But Garba flayed up at his arrested saying; "I am not an armed robber. We merely broke into the warehouse and took the goods. We have a lot of senators stealing money and they are not arrested. We are youths and jobless."
Speaking to journalists, the state Police Public Relations Officers, Ngozi Braide, said after a painstaking investigation, the police first picked up Umar and it was based on his confession that the other suspects were arrested and the goods recovered.
She said, "This is a case of conspiracy and armed robbery involving Umar, the security guard and four others. The others were brought in by Umar and they robbed the Honda shop and parked the goods in a warehouse at Maya Village, Ikorodu area of the state."
In another development, the command also arrested two other suspects; 17-year old Mary Francis, a house help who allegedly connived with one Igwe Ogana and one Anayo Alayefule who is currently at large, to rob her employer, one Jane Ashimi.
According to Braide, Francis who had connived with Ogana at Shagamu motor park, to rob the victim of her gold accessories, and dollars, had knowingly left the gate of the compound open at the stipulated day.
The suspects were said to have stormed the house and tied the victim up alongside Francis and made away with a Honda Civic saloon car with registration number EG376SMK, one laptop, the sum of N200, 000 and 3, 000 dollars, gold and jewelries valued at 2,000 dollars and five handsets.
She said, "Investigations conducted in this case extended to Iyala in Cross Rivers State where the principal suspect, Ogana, initially escape to but later arrested in his residential house at Owode Egba in Ogun State.
"The following items were recovered in his possession; one of the stolen handset, some of the stolen jewelries, 18 pieces of dollars suspected to be fake while efforts are ongoing to arrest other gang members and also recover the remaining stolen items."
Speaking to THISDAY, the mastermind, Garba, said he had no remorse for stealing from his employers, adding that his paltry salary of N12, 000 monthly drove him to conniving with other suspects.
He said, "I am not an armed robber. We merely broke into the warehouse and took the goods. We have a lot of senators stealing money and they are not arrested. We are youths and jobless.
"I earn just N12,000 monthly. How is that supposed to take care of my needs? We are all criminals in Nigeria and we all have the element of criminality."
Blowing hot, another suspect, Godwin said, "Why are they still bothering us? They have recovered the damn goods. I am not an armed robber and I never broke into the shop with a gun as claimed by the police.
"Sani called me to help him come and rob his office. We came and and packed the goods and packed it in my warehouse. But the police found out recovered all the goods.
"I am a businessman and although I sell spare parts, we did not sell the goods because it is not my line of business. Why are you asking me questions? Have you never committed any crime?"
Braide said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are over.
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