Car Stealing Is My Business —Suspect

A self-confessed car thief, Ganiyu Ogunlona has told the police in Lagos that he cannot do any  other business than to steal vehicles.

The 28-year old Ganiyu said that he had been stealing people’s cars and buses for some years now  that he cannot think of doing any other business than to steal vehicles.

“When I ran into trouble as a result of this business, I tried to stop it and do another thing, but  I found it difficult because such business could not give me quick money,” he revealed.

He confessed that most of the cars he steals are either taken out of Lagos or sold to the second  hand car dealers at a cheap price.

Asked whether he will stop the business if released, he said that he does not know yet.

On how he operates, he said that he does not use guns or any dangerous weapon but uses master key  to open the targeted vehicle or some times through the assistance of mechanic.

Ganiyu has been arrested and charged to court several times for stealing vehicles in Lagos.

On June 2010, he was charged to Ejigbo magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing a Mazda car with  registration number XA 471 RSH belonging to Mr. Sulaimon Mayegun in Isolo area.  He was arrested  and charged to court before he regained his freedom.

On July of the same year, he was also arrested for stealing a Mazda bus with registration number XS  387 AKD belonging to Mr. Patrick Mbata around Iyana Iba area.

This led him to be remanded in prison custody in Kirikiri only to be released toward the end of  December 2010.

He had earlier been sentenced to one year imprisonment for stealing a Toyota car which was later  recovered.

The latest car stolen by Ganiyu was on 22 January 2011 at Segun Lane, Off Salau Street, Oke-Afa,  Isolo area.

He was caught stealing LT bus with registration number X 501 KSF belonging to Mr. Michael Obeche.

However, luck ran out on him as he was again caught by the police on patrol and was taken to Ejigbo  station for theft.

When he was arraigned before the magistrate’s court presided over by Mrs. M. B. Folami, the  prosecutor, Kunle Shonibare informed the court that Ganiyu was a notorious criminal, adding that he  had several cases on the same offence which he was facing trial before the various courts.

In the light of the information, the court ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody  without an option of granting him bail.

The matter has been adjourned till 20 February 2011.

—Cyriacus Izuekwe