KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the X-Squad Unit of the Lagos State Command have arrested four suspects in connection with the burgling of Nigeria Police College and carting away N5m Aluminium ceiling holders.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened in May, 2025, at the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos.
The suspects, Michael Atoza and Yakubu Adamu, allegedly invaded the place, stole the items and sold them to Moctar Abdullahi and Abdulrasak Tahiru at Unity Road in Ikeja, Lagos.
While Atoza and Adamu were arraigned for conspiracy, burglary and stealing, Abdullahi and Tahiru were charged for allegedly buying stolen items.
According to the Police, the suspects conspired, broke into the College and stole the items despite the security in place and escaped at night. However, in the morning, when the Police management discovered what happened, they moved into action and eventually arrested the receivers of the items, who then mentioned the sellers and they were all arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
Part of the charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Michael Atoza, Yakubu Adamu and others now at large in the month of May, 2025 at Police College, Ikeja, Lagos State in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Michael Atoza and Yakubu Adamu and others now at large on same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did break into the Nigeria Police Force Facility with intent to steal Aluminum ceiling holders and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 310 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT III: “That you, Michael Atoza and Yakubu Adamu and others now at large on same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal Aluminum ceiling holders about Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) property of the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.
COUNT IV: That you, MoctarAbdullahi and Abdulrasak Tahiru of Unity Road in Ikeja, Lagos, in the month of May, 2025, at Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos State in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did receive and bought some pieces of Aluminum ceiling holders from one Michael Atoza at the rate of Nine Thousand, Six Hundred Naira (N9,600.00), knowing fully to be stolen goods and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 328 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, 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. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
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