The police yesterday told a Karu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja that two of its officers were under internal investigation for their alleged involvement in a car theft.
Prosecutor Peter Adams said this while arraigning a 28-year-old man, Saidu Abdul, charged with conspiring with one of the officers to steal the car belonging to John Yiltie.
Adams said the officers, Sunday Ibrahim and Zakari Abdullahi, were attached to the Transport Section, Force Headquarters, Abuja, and Kawo Police Station, Kaduna, respectively.
He told the court that Yiltie reported the case at the Garki Police Station, Abuja, and it was later transferred to the FCT Police Command on June 9, 2013.
The prosecutor said the car, a Honda Academy valued at N1.3 million, was stolen at a public car park at Durumi, Area 1, Abuja, where the complainant had parked it to see a friend.
“In the course of investigation, three suspects, Luke Musa, Niyi Adebiyi and Peter Aku, were arrested in connection with the missing vehicle through their chats on Blackberry Messenger.
“During interrogation at the station, they mentioned the accused and officer Ibrahim as masterminds of the theft.
“Ibrahim confessed that he and the accused persons conspired and stole the said vehicle from where it was parked.
“He said they sold the car to Corporal Abdullahi, attached to Kawo Police Station, Kaduna for N250, 000 without particulars. “The two officers are under in-house investigation and if found wanting, they will be charged to court after undergoing orderly room trial,” he said.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence counsel, Mr Amechi Ipeh, prayed the court to grant the accused bail “in the most liberal terms to enable him to come for trial at his convenience’’.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Hadiza Shagari, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200, 000 with two “reasonable” sureties in like sum.
Shagari said that one of the sureties must be a federal civil servant, who’s residential and official addresses must be verified by the prosecutor and adjourned the case to April 7 for continuation. (NAN)
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