The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one of the primary suspects in the alleged theft of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, worth N1.02 billion, and retrieved assets worth more over N300 million related to the crime.
Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, stated this to journalists on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
Tijani added that the arrest followed a lawsuit filed by MEA Energy over an alleged conspiracy and theft involving petroleum products worth N1.02 billion carried out by two suspects.
According to him, upon receiving the allegation, the command immediately initiated a discreet investigation supported by intelligence gathering, surveillance, and technical operations.
“Upon receiving the allegation, command operatives began a discreet investigation, which was supported by technical intelligence collecting and surveillance operations.
“After 12 days of extensive tracking and follow-up operations, one of the main suspects, aged 38, was captured in Delta, where he had fled in an attempt to avoid prosecution.
“The suspect was successfully tracked and apprehended through coordinated interstate policing efforts by operatives of the command,” Tijani stated.
The police commissioner went on to say that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to engaging in the alleged crime.
He went on to say that the suspect later helped investigators recover cash and property worth more than N300 million, which they think were the profits of illegal petroleum product diversion.
Tijani indicated that attempts were continue to apprehend the second suspect, who is still at large.
He stated that the arrested suspect would be charged in court once the inquiry was completed.