A dismissed policeman, Usman Zubairu, has been arrested for allegedly stealing motorcycles from unsuspecting riders in Lagos.
It was gathered that the man, who was dismissed from service in 2014, operated under the guise of being an active policeman to deceive his victims.
The Adamawa State indigene said he went into stealing as a means of livelihood after he was dismissed from the police force.
Mr Zubairu was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on two counts of stealing.
He met his Waterloo while he was about to play the same trick on a motorcyclist.
One of the victims, Chinda Ayuba, said he agreed to release his motorcycle to Zubairu because he believed that he was a policeman.
“A man stopped my motorcycle and introduced himself as a policeman. He told me to take him to Ijora from the Maroko area of Lagos, and I told him that I could not go there.
“He begged me to help him and promised that no policeman would arrest me.
“While on our way, he saw two boys and asked me to stop. He asked the boys what happened and they explained that some policemen had seized their motorcycles.
“He asked the boys to give him N1,000 each in order to assist them to get their motorcycles back. He then collected my motorcycle and asked me to wait with the two boys. I waited till sunset but he did not come back with my motorcycle,” Mr Ayuba said.
Police prosecutor, Michael Unah, said the offences contravened Section 280 and was punishable under Section 287(5)(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The suspect has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
