6th June, 2017
Paul Iyoghojie
The Police at the Maroko Division, Lekki, Lagos have arrested a car hire operator at Palms Shopping Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria over an attempt to steal a car with his two friends.
The suspect, Olufemi Moronfuyi, 37, allegedly invited his two friends to steal a Toyota Camry Car parked at the shopping centre by an unidentified customer for over a month.
The Police identified other suspects as Abiodun Ademola, 20, and Nurudeen Adepoju, 25.
Nemesis cut up with the suspects when Moronfuyi called his two friends to meet him at the Plaza, claiming to be the owner of the Toyota Camry Car with registration number GWA 540 GP parked by an unidentified customer whose whereabouts was still unknown till date.
It was learnt that when Abiodun and Nurudeen arrived the plaza, they introduced themselves to the security guards at the gates and told them that they were the sons of a man who parked a Toyota Camry car at the Shoprite Plaza.
They told the security guards that after their father parked the car, he developed a psychiatric problem and abandoned the car.
They reportedly told the security guards that their family sent them to drive the car back home.
The security guards, it was gathered initially believed them, but when the suspects were asked the colour of the car they wanted to drive back home, they said it was dark Ash colour whereas the colour of the car was Navy Blue.
When also asked about the registration number of the car, the suspect could not pronounce it.
Following the development, the management of the Palm Shopping Plaza reported the incident to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Maroko Division, SP Isa Abdulmajid who directed his men to arrest the suspect and bring them to the station.
During interrogation, according to the police, the two suspects allegedly confessed to the crime and that they were not the owner of the car but that they were invited by Moronfuyi, a car hire operator at Palm Shopping Plaza to steal the car.
They led the police to arrest Moronfuyi who also admitted that he invited his friend to steal the car so that they could sell it to enable him use his share from the proceeds to buy a car since the owner of the car did not come to pick it after about a month he parked the car at the Shopping Plaza.
After investigation, Moronfuyi and his accomplice were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on two count charge of stealing.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Abass Abayomi said the offences the accused persons committed were punishable under section 411 and 407 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the allegations and the magistrate, Mrs. O.A Komolafe granted them bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Komolafe adjourned the case to 20 July, 2017 while suspects were remanded at the Ikoyi Prison pending when they fulfilled their bail conditions