Two suspects arrested for allegedly stealing N12m worth of properties from Lagos church
By Fatai Kasali
The police at the Lion Building Division, Lagos Island of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two suspects, Falade Faruq, 22, and Tunde Mustapha, 20, and charged them before a Lagos Magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing properties valued at N12million from inside Ebenezer Cathedral Church located at Campbell Street, Lagos Island, Lagos while the security men attached to the church were allegedly sleeping.
Police alleged that the defendants and others now on the run scaled the fence of the church at about 4 a.m. to gain access into the church to steal an X32 mixer and Yamaha piano 2100 keyboard, all valued at N12m.
Police said that nemesis, however, caught up with the defendants when a resident in the area sighted them loading the stolen properties inside a waiting seven-passenger bus popularly called Korope and raised alarm.
The defendants and two others including the driver of the bus took to their heels, but concerned residents pursued them, apprehended one of them and dragged him to the nearby Lion building division.
During investigation, according to the police, the arrested suspect Faruq allegedly confessed to the crime and led the police to arrest Mustapha.
After investigation by Inspector Ojewole Gbenga and team, the defendants were charged before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, sitting at the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island with charges bordering on breaking, entry and stealing.
Police counsel Reuben Solomon told the court in the charge marked P/33/2023 that the defendants unlawfully entered inside the Ebenezer Cathedral Church located at Campbell Street to steal properties valued at N12m before they were arrested.
Solomon said the offences the defendants committed were punishable under Sections 411, 311 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate O. S. Abioye granted them N500,000 bail each with two sureties in like sum.
Abioye adjourned the case and ordered that the defendants be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility till they perfected the bail conditions.
