Rita Odafe
In Adamawa state, four individuals have been placed in custody at the Yola correctional facility facing multiple charges related to theft and criminal conspiracy. They are accused of stealing a vehicle valued at N5 million and selling it for only N800,000.
The defendants, presented before the Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola, include 25-year-old Yusuf Mohammed Isah, 33-year-old Mohammed Gidado, 43-year-old Babangida Jalo, and 31-year-old Adamu Yahaya, all from various locations. Another suspect, 30-year-old Faisal Mahmud, was unable to appear due to health issues, while Abubakar Manu remains at large.
The court heard that Yusuf and his three associates are charged with offences including “criminal conspiracy, theft, abetment and dishonesty,” as stated under various sections of Adamawa state’s penal code enacted in 2018.
ASP Iliya Akawu outlined in court how Yusuf Isah collaborated with the fugitive Abubakar Manu and Mohammed Gidado to steal a 2007 Toyota RAV4 with license plate RSH 548 BB Abj. The vehicle, worth N5 million, belonged to Aliyu Umar from the same locality as Yusuf.
According to the police report, on December 18, 2024, Yusuf reportedly broke into the owner’s residence, took a broken key, and crafted a duplicate. With the help of Abubakar Manu, who drove the stolen car, they brought it to Babangida Jalo’s residence in Yola.
Moreover, Babangida had prior knowledge of the theft and arranged for Faisal Mahmud to purchase the stolen vehicle. Upon arriving in Yola from Mubi, Faisal paid N800,000 for the car, giving Abubakar Manu N400,000 as a part of the deal.
Faisal then compensated Mohammed Gidado and Babangida Jalo with N100,000 each for their involvement before heading back to Mubi, only to be pursued and caught with the vehicle.
