Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command, on Tuesday, arrested a Lagos-based car wash worker, Kazeem Olanrewaju, who allegedly absconded with a Toyota Venza car, at the Nigeria-Benin Republic border.
Olanrewaju allegedly ran way with the car with number plate APP 775 GB, which was given to him to wash in Lagos, but was apprehended at the Idi-Iroko border town.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested when the Divisional Police Officer, Idiroko Division, CSP Shadrach Oriloye, was on routine patrol with his men and sighted the car without a number plate. The PPRO said the car was being driven by the suspect in a suspicious manner.
Oyeyemi stated, “He (Olanrewaju) was then flagged down, but instead of him to stop, he started running away. He was hotly chased and apprehended. On searching the vehicle, it was discovered that the number plate was removed and kept in the car.
“On interrogation, he confessed that he was working with a car wash in Festac Town, Lagos State, and he was given the car by a customer to wash, while the owner went to a nearby barbershop to have his hair cut. Before the arrival of the owner of the car, the suspect, who was in possession of the car key, ran away with the car.
“He was on his way to the neighbouring Benin Republic with the car when he was caught by the DPO and his men.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the case was reported at the Festac Town Police Station by the owner of the car and the station had been on the lookout for possible recovery of the car.
The station has since been informed of the recovery.”
Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had ordered thorough investigation into the past activities of the suspect before handing him over to Lagos State Police Command for prosecution.
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