MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives have arrested two members of suspected vehicles snatching syndicate, Ibrahim Olufowobi, 46 and Victor Benson, 46, who allegedly specialized in snatching vehicles and dismantling them as spare parts within minutes in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Olufowobi and Benson, were arrested by the Police operatives from Ikotun Division led by the DPO, CSP Oni Waheed Adebisi, after they conspired and stole three vehicles belonging to Alhaja Basirat Yunus Omobolanle and Ibrahim Olufowobi and dismantled them.
According to the Police, while Olufowobi stole the vehicle, Benson dismantled it and sold as spare parts in his shop to the extent that the owners will not be able to identify them.
However, they ran out of luck after they stole the three vehicles and the complainants identified them and contacted the Police. They were then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over their alleged criminal conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged separately for conspiracy and stealing under the Criminal law of the State.
COUNT I: “That you, Ibrahim Olufowobi ‘m’, Victor Benson ‘m’, and others still at large, between November 2024 to June 2025 at No 4, Unity Avenue, Okerube, Ikotun-Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit; stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Ibrahim Olufowobi ‘m’, Victor Benson ‘m’, and other at large between same months and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal Suzuki Mini Bus, popularly known as Korope, with registration number KRD 859 YF value Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only N4.5m, Property of One Alhaja Basirat Yunus Omobolanle ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Victor Benson ‘m’, and one other at large between same months and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did receive One Stolen Suzuki Mini bus, popularly known as Korope, with registration number KRD 859 YF valued Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only N4.5m, from One Ibrahim Olufowobi ‘m’, Property of One Alhaja Basirat Yunus ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 328(1), of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”
Other count charges for same offence at the same Court included:
COUNT I:”That you, Ibrahim Olufowobi ‘m’, Victor Benson ‘m’, and other still at tween November 2024 to June 2025 at No 1, Four Square Street, ti-Cluwani B/Stop, Ikotun-Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit; stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 411, of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
COUNT II: “That you, Ibrahim Olufowobi ‘m’, Victor Benson ‘m’, and other at large between same months and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal Two Suzuki Mini Every Bus with registration number LSD 658 YH and AGL 169 YD, value Six Million One Hundred Thousand Naira Only N6.1m, Property of One Chineye Ekuma ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 280 and punishable under section 287, of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
COUNT III: “That you, Victor Benson ‘m’, and one other at large between same months and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did receive Two Stolen Suzuki Every bus with registration number LSD 658 YH and AGL 169 YD, value Six Million One Hundred Thousand Naira Only N6.1m, from One Ibrahim Olufowobi ‘m’, Property of One Chineye Ekuma ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 328(1), of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty separately.
The prosecutor, Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K Dosumu-Uthman, granted them bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 21st August, 2025, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
