Police Smash 5-Man Car Snatching Gang

The Anti-Robbery Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has smashed a five-man gang specialising in car snatching in the state.

Nemesis caught up with them when one of the suspects, Kamorudeen Mumuni, drove a stolen car to Epe for sale.

Curious resised to the crime and led detectives to arrest his accomplices at their various hideouts.
dents tipped off the police and he was arrested and taken to the station with some dismantled parts of the stolen vehicle.

The suspects were identified as Kamorudeen Mumuni, 37; Taofeek Mumuni, 47; Ejike Mbogu, 23; Oluwaseun Adegboyega, 24 and Alhaji Ahmed Leke, 54.

Police alleged that the gang had vehicle dealers in Ojodu Berger, Ikorodu and Republic of Benin who buy the stolen vehicles from them.

In his confessional statement to the police, the leader of the gang, Alhaji Ahmed Leke, described himself as an  OPC member and that he supplies guns and ammunition to the gang for their operations. “But I do not follow them to rob. Each time they have problem with the police, I go to the police station to settle it,” he added.

Another member of the gang, Ejike Mbogu, told the police that members of the gang specialised in snatching vehicles like Honda Accord and Toyota Camry  products from their owners around Aguda, Surulere, Mushin and Ijesha-Itire. These stolen cars, he stated, were sold at give-away prices to car dealers at Ojodu Berger, Ikorodu and Republic of Benin.

“Our late leader, Shina, sells the cars to them at N250,000 and N370,000. I have collected N50,000 twice and N70,000 since last year when I was introduced into the business and I always use my share to drink and sleep with prostitutes,” he wrote in his statement to the police.

In the Police First Information Report, the suspects were described as notorious car snatchers who have been terrorising car owners in Aguda, Surulere, Mushin, Oshodi and Ijesha area of Itire, Lagos.

After investigation, the suspects were arraigned before the Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State on a two-count charge of felony, to wit, armed robbery and stealing.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Corporal Babaji, are contrary to Section 6(b) and punishable under Section 1(2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision Act), Cap. R11, Vol. XX11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Kamorudeen Mumuni, Taofeek Mumuni, Ejike Mbogu, Oluwaseun Adegboyega, Alhaji Ahmed Leke and others now at large on 1 December 2010 at about 12.05 p.m. at 31, Olumo Street, Onike, Iwaya, Lagos State, while armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, did rob Adewoye Adeyemi of his Gold-colour Honda Odyssey with registration number HJ 299 AAA, value unknown; one wristwatch and wallet containing national identity card and N8,000 cash.”

The presiding magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko refused to take their plea on grounds of jurisdiction. She directed that their case file be sent to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution for advice.

The accused were remanded in Ikoyi Prisons, pending the advice from the DPP.

The case has been adjourned till 13 January 2012.