By LUKMAN OLABIYI
A bus conductor, Taiye Taiwo, was onWednesday docked before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N12,000 and a mobile phone worth N6,000, from a trader
Taiwo, aged 20, and of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Livingnus Okeke, said the defendant and others at large, committed the offence on April 20, 2015 at UBA Roundabout at Marina on the Lagos Island.
He said Taiwo stole N12,000 and the phone, totaling N18,000, property of Vera Denedo.
Okeke said the defendant was later apprehended, few days later after the woman identified him and raised the alarm.
He pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecutor, the offence is punishable under Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.
Magistrate L. A Owolabi admitted him to bail for N10,000 with one surety in like sum. He adjourned the matter till May 25.
CDHR accuses Ogun police of arbitrary arrests, extortion
• It’s not true – Command
By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO
THE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Ogun State branch, has accused the police command of extortion, torture, unlawful arrests and gross violation of people’s rights.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the state capital, the CDHR said its investigation revealed that the command was becoming “a high cash centre”.
The statement jointly signed by Comrades Folarin Olayinka and Akiyode Okikiolu, chairman and secretary respectively, also alleged gross violation of the people’s rights.
Olayinka described as “devastating and retrogressive a situation when between N50,000, and N200,000 is forcefully demanded for bail, forceful extortion through threat and long-term detention in police cells.
“The growing rate of corruption among the police officers in Ogun State is very alarming and may lead to a face-off very soon among the CDHR, Coalition of Civil Societies and the police command,” he said.
According to the CDHR, police stations are fast becoming centres for dispensing justice, a supposed responsibility of the judiciary.
The CDHR listed major Divisional Police stations, particularly those in the state capital, as culpable in the sleeze.
“The police in Ogun State are betraying the people’s trust and rendering the state unsafe, a situation where people live in fear and consistent infringement on their fundamental human rights,” the group said.
Reacting, the command’s spokesman, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent, said there was no iota of truth in the accusation.
His words: “We, as a police formation, are doing our best to ensure adequate policing to individuals and corporate bodies.”
I’m now repentant criminal – Suspected kidnapper
By CHRISTOPHER OJI
A suspected kidnapper was full of thanks to God for his arrest, saying it has offered him an opportunity to repent.
Tunji Rasheed was among the three suspects being interrogated at the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command for alleged spate of abductions in the metropolis.
Rasheed, aged 27, told Crime Watch Today: “I really belong to a kidnapping cartel. We were six in number before we had disagreement and we split. I went with the leader, Tunji, who was shot dead recently by the police, others went their separate ways. Well, I will say that I give glory to God for my arrest because, it gave me a good opportunity to repent. I am not regretting my arrest as I am better than my leader, Tunji who did not have the opportunity that I have now. He was shot dead as he went to collect ransom. I am so grateful to God.
“I don’t know what is giving me joy because I now know what is evil or right. Before my arrest, I saw crime as normal. I can’t imagine myself now beating innocent victims to pay me money that I did not work for. If I am freed, I will never go back to my vomit.
“I am not saying that I am now a born again Christian, but a repentant criminal. I have two wives, and two children. I feel sorry for them because, they have not enjoyed anything from me. As a husband, I failed and as father, I also failed woefully. The painful thing is that one of my wives has advised me to shun crimes, but I did not listen. Tell me how the woman would feel now after my arrest. She will not be happy with me.
“You may not believe me, but I am speaking the truth, I am a new person. I used to drive our operational vehicle and later watched over victims. I don’t have a gun, but Niyi had. In fact, I use to torture our victims. But now, I am a changed person.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, who paraded the suspect at the command’s headquarters, Ikeja, said Rasheed belonged to a gang of hoodlums who specialised in kidnappings and demanding huge ransom.
He said that immediately he received the information, he ordered the officer in charge of SARS, Mr Abba Kyari, to arrest the hoodlums when he learnt of the kidnapping of a woman.
Police probe assault on politician
From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri
Police in Delta State have commenced investigation into the alleged beating and threat to the life of a female member of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Faith Ederi during the re-scheduled April 25 election in a senatorial district.
The victim, who is also a housewife, was allegedly assaulted by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, for refusing to compromise her position as the APC polling agent to the detriment of her party’s senatorial flagbearer.
Mrs. Ederi, in a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Usman Buba Alkali, alleged that the PDP stalwarts attempted to bribe her during the election at Orhue Primary School, Orerokpe, but her refusal earned her serious beating by the PDP chieftains who also threatened to kill her.
She has since reported the matter to the police at Orerokpe even as she claimed to be living in fear since the incident.
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