A 27 -year – old commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider , Mohammed Tukur , has run of luck after he was caught with an identity card of a late naval officer in the Mushin area of Lagos .
Tukur had reportedly ridden his motorcycle on Agege Motor Road against the traffic and was arrested by the police .
To evade arrest , he identified himself as a naval officer but the policemen did not bulge as he was taken to the station.
City Round learnt that Tukur claimed to be serving at Naval Dockyard , Victoria Island, which turned out to be false after his details were sent to the military authorities for verification .
“ The suspect was intercepted wearing military camouflage trousers on Friday , July 5 , 2019 . He had earlier claimed to be serving onboard NNS Aradu , Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island . At the time of the arrest , he was alleged to have involved in traffic offences with a motorcycle .
“ He presented a Nigerian Navy identity card with ID number , 2041 / 04 and service number Seaman ( SM) X 34740 . This aroused suspicion leading to his arrest by the police personnel on patrol ,” a source told our correspondent.
The source added that an officer from the Provost Office of the Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi , identified Tukur to be an impostor .
The suspect told the police that the ID card belonged to his late boss whom he worked with in Port Harcourt , Rivers State .
The okada rider said he left Port Harcourt with the ID card following his boss ’ death and decided to use it in Lagos to avoid paying levies to louts .
He said, “ My late boss gave me the ID card to use it whenever I wanted to pick his children at school . After he died, I continue to use the ID card. I use it to scare agberos ( louts) in Lagos from collecting money from me . I know it is an offence . I am very sorry .”
A police prosecutor , Inspector Koti Aondohemba, brought the suspect before an Ogba Magistrates ’ Court on five counts bordering on impersonation.
The charge re ad in part , “ That you , Mohammed Tukur , on July 5 , 2019 , around 3 am , on Agege Motor Road , Mushin, in the Lagos Magisterial District , did unlawfully possess a navy identity card, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 330 ( d ) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015 .
“ That you , Mohammed Tukur , on the same date, time and place , in the aforementioned magisterial district , did forge a navy identity card, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 363 ( a ) ( b ) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria , 2015 .”
The defendant, however , pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial.
The presiding magistrate , Mrs M . O . Tanimola , admitted him to bail in the sum of N 100 , 000 with a surety in the like sum .
Newcirculate247