Taskforce Arrests Paramilitary Officer for Theft of Impounded Motorcycle

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

For allegedly stealing a motorcycle impounded by the enforcement unit of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, one  Felix Olajide, a paramilitary officer of the Man ‘O’ War group, was yesterday arrested.

Olajide, who was deployed to the enforcement team of the task force to help in sanitising the state, was said to have spurned the core values of the organisation by indulging in crime. 

It was gathered that the enforcement team had earlier on Wednesday, August 15, impounded about 95 motorcycles plying restricted routes around Berger area of the state. 

However, Olajide had pilfered one of the seized motorcycles, a Boxer Bajaj with registration number AYE 441 QC, which he gave out for commercial purposes. 

Confirming the arrest, Wison Alaba, a  Deputy Superintendent of Police, said  after the motorcycles were impounded, they had recounted them at the office and noticed one was missing.

He said: “It was after we got to our office and re-counted those impounded motorcycles that we discovered one was missing.

“After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that Olajide stole the missing motorcycle despite the huge allowances paid every member of the agency’s paramilitary officers to cater for their needs.”

In his confessional statement, Olajide said: “I stole a motorcycle (Boxer Bajaj) with registration  No AYE 441 QC out of 95 motorcycles impounded during an enforcement operations at Berger.

“I have been using it for commercial purposes before I was arrested with it. It was the devil that pushed me as I have never engaged in criminal activities since I was born.”

He, however, pleaded for leniency and promised never to indulge in any criminality again if pardoned.

Meanwhile Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi granted the accused bail on condition with two sureties after he pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the one count charged of ‘Conduct in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by the theft.

He was accused of committing an offence punishable under Section 168 (1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 levied against him and can be bailed only by two sureties.

The magistrate who adjourned the case till  August 30, 2017, however said those two sureties in a like sum of N30,000 each must be a blood relations with a proof of evidence of three years tax clearance each to the government. 

Prosecuting counsel, Olumide Ajibola, said the ‘Charge Sheet’ was read in Yoruba language as requested by the accused for proper understanding of the offence he committed.