Two traders – Mrs. Olarenwaju Fawehinmi and Mrs. Bolanle Ajayi – and three others are currently behind bars at the Lagos Ports Authority Command of the Nigerian Police for their roles in the theft of about 400 bags of raw cocoa, which were packed in two containers.
Also in police net over the alleged theft of the commodity, which was diverted from Oshodi to Ikorodu, where the content of the containers were discharged, are Femi Oyebanji, Niyi Jacob and Ola Bello.
Trouble was said to have started when a truck conveying the containers to Apapa from Ikotun, both in Lagos, was intercepted at Oshodi on the ground that it ran into a vehicle belonging to a military man.
Both traders were arrested alongside their accomplices, Oyebanji, the intended buyer of the stolen goods; and his personal driver, Jacob, and Bello, the syndicate’s driver, who was driving the truck to Yede Junction after the cocoa bags had been off-loaded.
CRIME DIGEST learnt that Ajayi, who deals in auctioned goods at the wharf, was said to have contacted Fawehinmi, a trader in cosmetics, to help her keep the goods in her building in Ikorodu.
Ajayi, on the other hand, claimed that one Baba Alike, who is now on the run, invited her to help dispose of some goods with a promise of a mouth-watering commission.
It was learnt that six trucks had set out for the ports, but only five arrived at their destination, as one of the trucks was intercepted at Oshodi by some people, who claimed that the vehicle “brushed” another vehicle.
The police are, however, working on the theory that the suspects colluded to steal and sell off the contents of the containers, having diverted the truck to a private house in Ikorodu; emptied the contents into a warehouse, and drove the truck to a border town between Lagos and Ogun states.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the command, Mr. Omo-Bare Akindemowo, confirmed that the goods were found in a building in Fawehinmi’s house at Yinka Ogunfire Street in Ikorodu, where the cosmetics trader was picked up.
Akindemowo said, “The house where Fawehinmi lives with her family is also attached to the uncompleted building where the stolen bags of cocoa were kept. Ajayi had picked up the goods from Oshodi where a truck loaded with the two containers had been detained under the pretext that the driver had hit a military man’s vehicle.”
He added, “The sixth truck, which was detained at Oshodi, was later diverted to Fawehinmi’s residence at Ikorodu. The truck and empty containers were intercepted with a second driver at Yede Junction, Lagos-Ogun state boundary.”
Fawehinmi, however, claimed ignorance of the contents of the bags and the fact that the containers were stolen. The visibly distressed woman said, “I first met Ajayi at a party last December and we became friends; we kept in touch after that. When Bolanle (Ajayi) called me on January 31 to ask for the use of an uncompleted building of mine, I had no reason to suspect her motives. So, I agreed.”
The mother of five, who continuously pleaded her innocence, said her friend told her she dealt in auctioned goods at the wharf. “I allowed her the use of my house because we were friends and not for monetary gains,” said Fawehinmi, who wept profusely while covering her face in order to ensure that her photograph was not taken.
“My husband is not even aware that I am in police custody. He is away in Abuja. Though the house belongs to him, I did not ask for his permission before granting Ajayi access to the uncompleted building.”
Ajayi blamed her current travails on the fleeing Baba Alike, a friend who she claimed was a transporter at the wharf. “For over five years, I have traded in auctioned goods and not once have I had any problem with the police. I don’t deal in cocoa and I have never done business with Baba Alike although we know each other.
“Baba Alike had called me on January 31 and asked that I pick up some goods and also find a buyer for them. I was to be paid a commission when the entire transaction had been completed. I never knew the goods were stolen. It was simply a business opportunity that came suddenly and I jumped at it,” She said.
The Ports command deputy commissioner hinted that such transactions had been established between Ajayi and Baba Alike. He said, “Ajayi normally meets with him at Niger Junction (Apapa, Lagos) close to the wharf to pick up goods, but on this occasion, he asked her to go to Oshodi. It was Ajayi who directed the goods to Olarenwaju’s (Fawehinmi) residence at Ikorodu. Baba Alike aka Sule, who is the head of the syndicate, is currently at large and any person who can come up with information concerning his whereabouts, gets a reward.”
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