- The incident occurred on August 11 at Omi-Olori Street in Ado-Ekiti.
- The stolen tricycle battery belonged to a person named Ajayi Olaniyi, valued at N22,000
Ekiti State Police Command on Monday arraigned a 26 years old man, Sunday Adesina, before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court over alleged stealing of a neighbour’s tricycle battery.
The police prosecutor, ASP Celeb Leramo, told the court that the defendant allegedly, “on August 11, at about 11:50 hours at Omi-Olori Street in Ado-Ekiti, did steal a tricycle battery.”
Leramo, who said the battery belonging to one Ajayi Olaniyi of the same address was valued at N22,000, said, “The offence is punishable under Section 295, 302(1)(a) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State 2021.”
Counsel to the defendant, Emmanuel Sunmonu, urged the court to grant his client bail which he said the defendant would not jump bail and promised to provide credible surety.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Saka Afunso, granted the defendant bail of N25,000, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case to August 17, for a hearing.
SP Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the command, stated that Mr. Owonikoko was apprehended following an operation led by ACP Omosanyi Adeniyi, the area commander in Ijebu-Ode.
The PPRO reported that the 33-year-old suspect confessed, implicating a police inspector he identified as Ola, who he claimed supplied the firearms used in their operations.
Mr. Owonikoko was reportedly driving from Ososa towards Ijebu-Ode when he spotted the police and turned into a nearby street.
The police spokesperson revealed that the suspect was wearing a vigilante uniform and was allegedly involved in multiple criminal activities.
Ms. Odutola mentioned that the police successfully apprehended the suspect despite his attempt to evade capture by the officers.
“On searching the vehicle he earlier abandoned, a black cellophane bag containing 32 expended cartridges, 78 live cartridges and a locally-fabricated shotgun were recovered.
“Also, a search warrant was also executed at his residence
”There, another Magnum pump action rifle, one double barrel shotgun, one locally-fabricated double barrel pistol, stunt pistol chocker, an unregistered silver colour Toyota Camry and Green-coloured Toyota Sienna Bus marked KNN 58 TD Ogun were recovered.
“Others are a liquid chemical, a black beret with insignia of Eiye Confraternity, cannabis, hard drugs, ATM cards, power bank, two Apple wristwatches, two cell phones and poisonous charm were also recovered,” she said.
Additionally, the PPRO revealed that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, had instructed the police force to pursue the remaining individuals involved.
She emphasized that the Ijebu-Ode Area Command is consistently enhancing its efforts in combating crime, while highlighting the Commissioner of Police’s unwavering dedication to eliminating criminals from the state.
Ms. Odutola included that the apprehended suspect and the seized items would be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department for the purpose of profiling and undergoing forensic examination.