[ 2016-08-05 ]

I have stolen only four cars this year – Muslim Cleric
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a
42-year-old Islamic cleric, Rasheed Ayuba, for
alleged car theft.

Ayuba, who hails from Igbesa, Ogun State, was
apprehended along with a transporter in Ibadan,
Oyo State, Falade Igbekele, who reportedly bought
six of the stolen cars.

PUNCH Metro learnt that a bunch of master keys and
about 13 other car keys, as well as charms, were
recovered from Ayuba.

It was gathered that the suspect, who also teaches
at an Arabic school in Ishasi, Lagos, was caught
sometime in June after he entered into a hotel in
the Ikotun area to steal a Toyota Camry parked on
the premises.

He was driving out the car when he was caught by
vigilantes in the neighbourhood, who handed him
over to officials of the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad.

Ayuba reportedly told the police that he bought
the master keys for N9,000 from one John, a
Beninoise.

He said, “I finished from an Arabic school in
Ikotun and started teaching Arabic in Ishasi. At
about 11pm on June 8, I went to a hotel around
Ile-Iwe bus stop to steal a Toyota Camry. But I
was arrested by the security guards in the area.

“I got the master keys I used from John, who is
from Benin Republic. We met in 2013 in Lagos and
he sold the master keys to me. Since then, I had
been using them to steal cars. I usually sold the
cars to my customers in Ibadan. One of them is
Falade (Igbekele) to whom I sold six cars, and
Friday, who bought a Toyota Camry.

“It was only four cars I had stolen this year
before I was arrested. I sold a Toyota Camry to
one pastor Dare for N100,000, and a Honda for
N80,000 to another pastor. But pastor Dare had
just paid me N50,000. They all knew I stole the
cars.”

Fifty-two-year-old Igbekele confessed to have
bought six cars from Ayuba, saying a friend
introduced him to Ayuba.

The indigene of Ondo State added that he used some
of the vehicles for commercial purpose.

“I knew Alfa Ayuba through a friend called Lucky
Star. Lucky told me Alfa sells vehicles and I said
I had interest in buying them. He had sold six
vehicles to me so far, including a Nissan Sunny
and a Nissan Primero. I bought them for N150,000
each.

“I bought all the cars from Alfa three years
ago. He told me he stole them and I asked if I
would not get into trouble; he said yes,”
Igbekele said.

While the police said they were on the trail of
the other accomplices, Ayuba and Igbekele were
brought before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on
Wednesday on six counts bordering on stealing and
receiving stolen property.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Donjor Perezi,
told the court that the offences were punishable
under sections 98, 285 (10), 326 (a) (b) and 409
of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the
charges before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.A.
Olayinka, and were admitted to bail in the sum of
N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till November 8, 2016.

Source - uncova

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