The police in Lagos have arrested a man who deals in men’s wear, Akeem Ariyo, for allegedly robbing a shop on Ariyo Street, in the Balogun Market area of Lagos.

It was learnt that the 35-year-old suspect was arrested along with his wife, Mosunmola, on July 14, 2015, but the wife was freed the following day.

The police alleged that Ariyo and others at large burgled the shop owned by one Kudirat Akinyede, said to be the wife of a police officer, between 10pm of June 9 and 6am of June 7, carting away gold jewellery and cash sum, all estimated at N11.6m.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the security guards attached to the market were also apprehended in connection with the crime, but were later released after they were interrogated.

The police said the suspect confessed to the crime after he was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ikeja. But Mosunmola, quoted her husband as saying that he did so under duress.

“Officers at SARS said he had confessed. But when I asked him, he said he had suffered a lot; there are bruises all over his body,” she added.

Mosunmola told our correspondent that the suspect had visited his parents, who live near the burgled shop, and was bathing on the premises in the midnight when he saw some men in black dresses. He reportedly ran inside, leaving his phone on a bench.

It was learnt that policemen attached to the Lion Building Police Division, later called Mosunmola with her husband’s phone, and traced them to their residence in Ikorodu.

She said the police ransacked their house and took her jewellery box to the station, where Akinyede was asked to identify whether they were hers.

She said, “On June 14, somebody called me that he found my husband’s phone. I gave the caller our address to bring it. Suddenly, a team of policemen stormed our house. They searched our house and took us to the station.

“At the station, my gold trinket was shown to the woman, but she could not find her own there. They later returned the box to me.”

Also, a resident, Rasheed Smith, said he, Ariyo and other friends had parted around 11pm on June 9, adding that he had made a statement at the police station in respect of the incident.

He said, “Akeem (Ariyo) had come to visit his parents on the fateful day. He, his sibling and I were outside chatting that day until around 11pm when we left for our respective houses. In the morning, he told me what he saw while he was bathing, adding that he could not find his phone.

“I was surprised when I learnt he was arrested for robbery. I was invited to the police station and I made a statement. I think the police need to do a thorough investigation because the woman’s shop was looted again a week after the first incident.”

However, the police arraigned Ariyo before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on two counts bordering on armed robbery.

The charges read, “That you, Akeem Ariyo, and others still at large, between 10pm and 6am of June 9 and 10, on Ariyo Street, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; armed robbery.

“That you, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, while armed with guns, did steal gold jewellery valued at N8m, cash sum of N3m and a sum of $3,000 ─ all valued at N11.6m ─ property of one Kudirat Akinyede, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section (1) (2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearm Act, Cap 398, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, as amended.”

The defendant’s plea was not taken by the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, who ordered that the case file be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

While adjourning the case till September 29, 2015, the magistrate remanded Ariyo in prison pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.

cc lalasticlala

Taylor86:
and someone will be wondering what their children will be


kidnappers or suicide bombers

freesinzu:
J

boboLIL:
J

freesinzu:
J

boboLIL:
J

keylo:
Kk

keyobi:
Arrested on July 14th 2015 and freed the following day.
smh at where journalism is heading to in naija.

UnknownT:
SARS?!! Forget it! They probably tortured him to confess. Bunch of heartless men

Fernandowski:
Yoruba kwenu!!!!