The police in Lagos State have arrested two
suspects, Umaru Babangida and John Samuel, in connection with the stealing of
two exotic sports bicycles worth about N3million naira.
According to Punch, the bicycles belong to a
resident of Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, identified as Osarenkhme Afe. It
was gathered that the stolen items, a Scott X10 hybrid bicycle and a giant defy
advanced carbon fibre road bicycle, were valued at N1.1M and N1.9m
respectively.
Twenty-year-old Babangida, was said to have bought the Scott X10 hybrid bicycle from Samuel and other suspects at large for N10,000.
They were apprehended on October 22, after the case was reported to the police at the Maroko Police Division.
Punch gathered that Afe had come back from morning jogging on September 14, when he discovered that the bicycles had been stolen.
It was learnt that the thieves had crept into the building when a security guard manning it had slept off, stealing the guard’s phone and the bicycles.
One of the suspects, Babangida, told the police that he was initially suspicious that the bicycle was stolen, but decided to buy it after assurances that there was no problem.
He said,
Twenty-year-old Babangida, was said to have bought the Scott X10 hybrid bicycle from Samuel and other suspects at large for N10,000.
They were apprehended on October 22, after the case was reported to the police at the Maroko Police Division.
Punch gathered that Afe had come back from morning jogging on September 14, when he discovered that the bicycles had been stolen.
It was learnt that the thieves had crept into the building when a security guard manning it had slept off, stealing the guard’s phone and the bicycles.
One of the suspects, Babangida, told the police that he was initially suspicious that the bicycle was stolen, but decided to buy it after assurances that there was no problem.
He said,
“I bought the bicycle from
a man that was brought to me by John (Samuel). I bought it for N10,000 but he
didn’t give me a receipt. The man said it belonged to him and that I should not
worry.”
Samuel denied the knowledge of the theft, saying
he only facilitated the selling of the bicycle to Babangida.
“I met a man on the road
and he said he wanted to sell a bicycle. I told him I didn’t have money and
took him to my friend, Babangida. I didn’t know it was stolen,” he added.
A police prosecutor, Inspector Philip Osijale, on
Monday arraigned the two suspects before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on three
counts bordering on stealing and receiving stolen property.
The charges read in part,
The charges read in part,
“That you, John Samuel and
others now at large on September 14, 2016, at about 6.30am, at Babatunde
Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, within
the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal one giant defy advanced carbon fibre
road bicycle valued at N1.935,000, and one Scott X10 hybrid bicycle valued at
N1.1m, property of one Osarenkhme Afe, thereby committing an offence punishable
under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in
the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum by a presiding
magistrate, Mrs. M.B. Folami.
The case was adjourned till December 21, 2016.
The case was adjourned till December 21, 2016.
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