A self-acclaimed Building Engineer has advised operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command, that he's not an armed robber however a receiver of stolen automobiles.
The suspect, Kayode Haruna, who claimed to be a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, was alleged to have purchased over 50 stolen automobiles from armed robbers at low costs after which might promote them members of the general public.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, advised PUNCH Metro that the suspect suggested the robbers to grab unregistered automobiles coming into the nation on the border.
She said.as a result of the automobiles weren't registered, they have been tough to hint and
the suspect would promote them to members of the general public.
She mentioned, "A gang of robbers have been arrested final yr and so they confessed that their modus operandi was to grab automobiles from individuals bringing in automobiles from Cotonou, Benin Republic. They would then promote the stolen automobiles to Haruna."
"Based on their confession, police started to seek for Haruna. After months of investigation, he was arrested and he will likely be charged to courtroom for receiving stolen items."
The 40-year-old suspect, nevertheless, advised PUNCH Metro that he had offered solely 30 automobiles as towards the over 50 the police alleged.
The native of Kwara State said.when he initially began coping with the robbers, he didn't know that the automobiles have been stolen.
He also said that when he later knew that the automobiles have been stolen, he continued the enterprise relationship as a result of “the devil tempted” him to proceed.
He mentioned: "I used to be working at a building web site someday when one in all my boys, Sola, gave me the phone variety of Stanley, whom he said.was a customs officer that offered automobiles at very low cost costs. I met with Stanley, Ejike and Dada and so they gave me excellent costs. So, we began doing enterprise."
"Most occasions, they known as me with totally different phone numbers and we met at totally different accommodations in Egbeda, Mile 12 areas, Lagos, or the Mowe space of Ogun State."
"I at all times paid money and so they handed over the automobiles to me. They advised me the automobiles have been impounded automobiles, so I didn't suspect something initially."
"On one event, nevertheless, they offered to me a blood-stained automobile. This was after I began to suspect that they have been armed robbers. I'd have stopped coping with them however the satan pushed me to proceed to do enterprise with them."
When requested how a lot he often purchased and offered the automobiles, the daddy of 4 mentioned, "I've purchased and offered solely 30 automobiles. I often promote Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Highlander as a result of the demand for the automobiles is excessive."
"The market worth for Toyota Highlander is about N2.2m however I purchase it at N1m. I purchase Toyota Camry 2010 mannequin for N1.5m and I promote it for N2.4m. The Toyota Camry I'm at present driving, I purchased it at N350,000."