The Ogun State Police Command on Thursday, August 7, 2014 arrested two men for allegedly diverting a truck loaded with goods worth N11.5 million and attempting to sell it to an undercover security agent for N3 million in Ogun state.
The truck marked, LAGOS LND 182 XB was loaded with Nestle Plc products worth N11.5 million going to Abuja.
While briefing the pressmen, the police public relations officer for Ogun state, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi , said the suspects identified as Idowu Jimoh,42, and Emeka Godwin,21 had agreed to sell the stolen goods for N3 million to an undercover policeman who feigned interest in the deal to enable him catch the suspects red-handed.
Punch reports:
The police said the duo had made plans to divert and sell the goods before a police informant alerted the command.
Adejobi explained that a police detective was detailed to work undercover and gain the confidence of the suspects.
He said the detective managed to establish contact with Jimoh and Godwin and entered into negotiation with them. He added that the suspects agreed to sell the goods to the policemen for N3m.
The PPRO said, “The suspects are the driver of the truck, Idowu Jimoh of Kokale Coca Cola Area of Ota, Ogun State, who also hails from Epe in Lagos State and the motor boy, Emeka Godwin, who hails from the Anocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“The truck was loaded with Nestle PLC products worth 11.5 million The goods were meant for a customer in Abuja, but the duo planned to divert it to another place to sell.
“When the police detectives heard of the plan due to our intelligence gathering, they quickly keyed into the arrangement and a detective from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ogun State, entered into negotiation with the suspects through the help of an informant.
“The suspects agreed to sell the goods for N3 million to the potential buyer (the police man) before they were eventually arrested at Ijoga Orile. They had tactically removed the tracker fixed on the truck so that the company would not be able to track its movement.
“The driver of the truck, Idowu, had worked in a company in Ota and was sacked for a similar offence of stealing and diverting a truck loaded with some chemical products. He is married with children and has even built a house.”
Adejobi said the Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had directed SARS to carry out a thorough investigation of the matter and get others connected with the crime.
He added that the commissioner advised firms to screen their employees and install sophisticated vehicle trackers unlike the type which was removed by the driver.
