7 Suspected thieves arrested at Davido’s 30Billion concert
Police at the Bar Beach Division of the Lagos State Police Command,
Victoria Island, Lagos, has confirmed the arrest of seven of the 10-man
gang who stormed the Eko Hotel premises with the intention to steal and
rob guests who attended Davido’s 30Billion Concert.
A Police source said that the feat was achieved by the Divisional
Police Officer, DPO in charge of Bar Beach Division,Victoria Island, CSP
Olusegun Ajamolaya. Police Identified the arrested suspects as
Augustine Ode, 22; Yusuf Lawal, 26; Saheed Olasupo,27 and Babatunde
Balogun, 28. Others included Owoyele Moses, 27; Adewola Akinyeli, 28
and George Daniel, 27.
The suspects on arrival at Eko Hotel premises at about 3.30am while
the Concert was ongoing, attacked a guest, Oladapo Adeola and robbed him
of his N75,000 and a Techno Spark Plus K9 phone valued at N42,000 and
started beating him unknown to them that the DPO was on ground with his
men.
The source said that the incident attracted the DPO who ordered his
men to arrest all the suspects and they succeeded in arresting seven of
them while three managed to escaped with the stolen items.
During investigation, according to the Police, all the arrested
suspects allegedly confessed to the crime that they were thieves who
specialised in invading event centers on Victoria Island to steal and
rob guest of phones and money. All the suspects allegedly promised the
Police that if they were set free, they would never commit the crime
again.
The suspects were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court,
Lagos on a two-count charge of felony to wit, stealing from a guest,
Adeola at Eko Hotel and Suites premises. Police Counsel, Friday Mameh
informed the Court in charge No Q/72/2017 that the accused persons and
others still at large stormed the Eko Hotel premises, venue of the just
concluded N30 billion Concert to steal, but that they met stiff
resistance from the Police on ground who arrested them.
Mameh said that the offences the accused persons committed were
punishable under sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos
State, 2015. One of the accused, Babatunde Balogun pleaded guilty to
the crime while others pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime. Balogun
stated in the open Court: “Your honour all of us committed the crime at
Eko Hotels, but since my partners in crime are denying the allegations,
I wish them good luck, but I committed the crime.”
Magistrate B.I Bakare admitted the not guilty to bail in the sum of
N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Bakare adjourned the
case till 30 January, 2018 for mention.