Police arrest suspect in N1.02bn PMS theft, recover N300m assets in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one of the key suspects linked to the alleged theft of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, valued at N1.02 billion and recovered assets worth more than N300 million connected to the crime.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

Tijani explained that the arrest followed a petition submitted by MEA Energy over an alleged case of conspiracy and theft involving petroleum products worth N1.02 billion reportedly carried out by two suspects.

According to him, the command immediately launched a discreet investigation backed by intelligence gathering, surveillance and technical operations after receiving the complaint.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, operatives of the command commenced discreet investigation supported by technical intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.

“After 12 days of intensive tracking and follow-up operations, one of the principal suspects, aged 38, was apprehended in Delta, where he had fled in an attempt to evade justice.

“The suspect was successfully tracked and apprehended through coordinated interstate policing efforts by operatives of the command,” Tijani said.

The police commissioner further revealed that the suspect confessed to participating in the alleged crime during interrogation.

He added that the suspect later assisted investigators in recovering cash and properties valued at over N300 million, believed to be proceeds from the unlawful diversion of petroleum products.

Tijani stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the second suspect, who remains at large.

He added that the arrested suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.