Police arrest two over motorcycle theft in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command on Saturday said that its operatives with Ago-Iwoye Division have arrested one Eje Benson, also known as Kenny, and his accomplice, Ominiyi Austin, for allegedly stealing a N1.3m Bajaj motorcycle with number plate DGB 629 VC belonging to one Francis Ayinde.

The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.

Odutola said that one Akinola Musa, who reported the incident to the police on December 26, had explained that the motorcycle was actually given to Benson to use for commercial operations in October with an agreement that he would be paying back N25000 every week.

Benson was, however, said to have allegedly claimed that the motorcycle had been stolen, whereas he had allegedly connived with one Ominyi Austin and sold the motorcycle to Emmanuel Nwosu at Ijebu Ode for 800,000 using forged photocopy documents and falsified phone number and signature.

The alleged bike thief reportedly fled to Benue State after paying Austin N60,000 commission but had since been arrested to account for his misdemeanour.

The statement partly reads, “The divisional police officer of Ago Iwoye has cracked a crime involving the stealing of a Bajaj Motorcycle by one EJE who fled to Benue State but has been arrested by the Divisional Police Officer Ago Iwoye.

“On December 26, 2024, around 6:20 pm, Akinola Musa, a resident behind Mini-Campus Ago-Iwoye, reported to the station with Eje Benson, also known as Kenny.

“Akinola stated that he had entrusted a Bajaj motorcycle, with the plate number DGB 629 VC and valued at 1,300,000, to Eje Benson for weekly payments of 25,000 throughout October 2024, on behalf of its owner, Francis Ayinde.

“Eje Benson claimed the motorcycle was stolen from his home; however, he and Ominyi Austin took the vehicle to Ijebu-Ode, where they sold it to Emmanuel Nwosu for 800,000 on December 12, 2024, using forged photocopy documents that included a falsified phone number and signature.

“Following this, Eje Benson fled to Benue State after paying Ominyi Austin a 60,000 commission from the 600,000 collected from Emmanuel Nwosu. The suspects have been apprehended, and the stolen Bajaj motorcycle, DGB 629 VC, has been recovered.

“The crime branch is currently investigating this matter. Further updates will be provided. “