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Islamic cleric nabbed in Ogun for car stealing

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Written by Oluwatoyin Malik and Kemi Adetunji Sunday, 29 April 2012
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[The recoverd Honda accord car (right) and the Toyota camry bought for N200,000 by Lukman. Inset is the photograph of the suspects, Lateef (left) and Lukman.] IN Isale Abetu area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, the residents knew 28-year-old Lukman Gbolagade as an Islamic cleric. Popularly known as Alfa, he had clients who used to approach him with their problems. In return, he would pray for them and prepare talisman that he thought would ameliorate their problems spiritually.

What was unknown to them however was the fact that Lukmon was also into an undisclosed business – car theft. He was the head of a gang that usually visited Ibadan in Oyo State to steal cars with master keys where they were parked, only to change the colour and engraved glasses and resell to others; until his cup got full last Sunday when he was arrested by anti-robbery policemen led by Inspector Charles Akpe from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Abeokuta.

According to information gathered by Sunday Tribune, Lukman was exposed by the last car he stole from Odo Ona Elewe area of Ibadan, a Honda Accord car popularly called Honda Allah with registration number EA 250 LSR. The owner of the car, one Seyi Oyebisi had given the car to his mechanic for engine repair. The mechanic was reported to have parked the car in his house on April 16 after working on it, with the intention of test-driving it the following day. He was however shocked the following morning when he saw an empty space where he parked the car the previous night. Not only had the Honda Allah disappeared, the documents of a Mercedes V-booth car and N150,000 kept in the car were taken with it.

Unknown to Lukman, his activities were being noted as he worked on the stolen car to change its back windscreen and side glasses, and it was this information that was given to the police that eventually led to his arrest. According to a police source who spoke with Sunday Tribune, “anti-robbery policemen received an information on Sunday April 22 at about 7.30p.m. that some people brought an Honda Accord car to Isale Abetu area of Abeokuta and effected a change in its glasses the previous day.

The suspect mentioned was traced to Mallo Petrol Station at Isale Ake area and the police met him with two others in a white Toyota Camry saloon car. On sighting the police, one of them fled while two others were arrested. Lukman was taken to his house where the Honda Accord car was recovered. On further interrogation, we discovered that the Camry car and another Honda Accord (Bulldog)were also stolen. It was the documents of the Honda Allah car that were used to trace the owner in Ibadan.”

Confessing to his crime, Lukman, an Ibadan indigene told Sunday Tribune that he started car theft about a year ago after he was introduced to the crime by one Razak. “It was Razak who got me a master key and also introduced me to one Labwa. I invited my friends, Adam and Lateef Adio. My first job was a Nissan Sunny stolen from Molete area in Ibadan. I went with Adam amd we sold it for N50,000. The second one was the Honda Bulldog taken from Odo Ona area.That one was given to Lateef. The third one was the Honda Allah stolen from Challenge area of Ibadan. I got the Toyota Camry from another gang which specialised in stealing posh cars. I paid them N200,000 for it and also gave them N25,000 for re-painting it from grey to white colour.”

However, the second suspect denied being a member of Lukman’s group, saying that he only knew him as a colleague in religion since he was also an Alfa. “He told me he had a brother selling cars and I deposited N50,000 with him. He later brought Nissan Sunny but I rejected it. I added N50,000 to the initial one, making N100,000. He brought the Honda Bulldog which I also rejected but he told me to manage it. I asked for the plate number and he promised to bring it. The Honda car later broke down and when I was asked to bring N150,000 for repair, I left it at mechanic workshop. He told me he wanted to buy Toyota Camry (Big Daddy) and called me when he got it. When he brought the Honda Allah, he showed me and said he needed to change the glasses. I helped him contact someone who did it for him. I never knew it was a stolen car.

“Last Sunday, I saw him at Isale Ake area and joined him. That was how I was arrested by the police. I never followed him on any of his operation and I did not know he was into such crime”.

Confirming the story,the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi said that the suspects had been transferred from Adatan Police Station to the State CID for further interrogation. He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state would give appropriate directive if there would be need to transfer the case to the venue of crime.