THE Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of an armed robbery syndicate led by a 43-year-old lady, Adeshina Ayisat Ajoke, and two others, Adejumo Fatai, 40 and Akintunde Akanni, who specialised in snatching vehicles in Lagos State.
According to media reports, the suspects were arrested by the Commissioner of Police Special Squad of the State Command following intelligence reports on their activities in the State.
The squad moved into action, trailed and arrested the suspects, and detained them at the State Command for interrogation.
During the investigation, the Police discovered that the suspects and others now at large were allegedly responsible for various car snatching incidents between January 2023 and August 2023 across the State, including Alimosho, Shomolu, Bariga, Abule Egba, and other areas.
The Police also recovered various vehicles, which they allegedly conspired and stole during their various operations, which included a Toyota Sienna worth N1.3m belonging to Awwal Sulaiman and a Ford Ranger pick-up belonging to Popoola Ayowole worth N5m.
Other vehicles recovered from the syndicate include a Hyundai Santra SUV belonging to Abraham Adeyi, a Toyota Sienna bus belonging to Ugochukwu Celestine, a Honda City car recovered from Ajoke, which she forged the documents and was using as her car.
The Police also recovered one Toyota Camry from one of the suspects, Akintunde, worth N4m as receiver, which was snatched with arms during the operation.
After the investigation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for alleged conspiracy, stealing, and armed robbery.
However, the Court did not take their plea after the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the case.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered the defendants to be remanded in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be made available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.