7th October, 2016
The police at the Lion Building division, Lagos Island, Lagos have arrested an unrepentant handset thief, Damilola Joseph Sarumi, 26, who claimed to be a 400-Level student of Computer Science in one of the universities in Lagos.
The suspect was arrested for allegedly obtaining four phones from four women under false pretence.
The police alleged that the suspect obtained the phones from the complainants under the pretext of securing jobs for them as ushers at a popular hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The suspect, it was alleged, collected the expensive phones from the victims, sold them off and escaped. Also arrested with him in connection with the crime was the alleged receiver of the stolen phones, Toheed Fatuga, 32.
The suspect, a resident of Okesuna area of Lagos Island, was first arrested by the police in January, 2016 for allegedly obtaining six expensive phones from seven women at various hotels on Lagos Island with the pretext to qualify them for a dancing competition at the same hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos for a fee of N150,000.00, a claim he knew to be false.
He was charged to court and admitted to bail and when he could not perfect the bail conditions before the court closed for the day. He was sent to Ikoyi prison where he spent about five months before he was able to perfect his bail conditions.
Police said nemesis caught up with Sarumi in the latest incident when the victims reported the theft to the female DPO in charge of Lion Building division, CSP Folashade Tanaruno.
Following the report, the DPO directed a team led by Inspector Elegbede Oluranti to fish out the suspect and he was arrested at a hideout. During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and led the police to arrest his accomplice, Toheeb Fatuga.
The two suspects were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a seven-count charge of felony, to wit: stealing and receiving stolen properties. Police prosecutor, Friday Mammeh, informed the court in charge No. Q/52/2016 that the accused persons committed the alleged offence on 25 August, 2016 at Adeniji Adele Plaza, Lagos Island.
Mammeh told the court that the first accused deceived the complainants that he was a senior staff with a hotel on Victoria Island and he tricked and collected four expensive phones from them to secure a job for them at the hotel. He said the accused collected iphone from Sarah Anekeh valued at N60,000, Techno 1.8 phone valued at N45,000 from Omobolanle Afolabi, T-mobile phone valued at N30,000 from Oluwafisayo Daniel and Techno C8 valued at N46,000 from Favour Christopher and sold them.
Mammeh said Toheeb fatuga was charged with receiving the stolen phones, an offence punishable under sections 285(1), 312(1)(a), 326(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and magistrate Mr. P. A. Adekomaya admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Adekomaya adjourned the case till 14 October, 2016 for mention while the defendants were taken to Ikoyi prisons pending when they will fulfill their bail conditions.