The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended four suspects over alleged fraud involving petroleum products in Satellite Town, Lagos.
It was gathered that the suspects, who are between the ages of 33 and 43, were apprehended on April 14 at about 6:00 p.m.
A police source told journalists on Wednesday that the suspects, with intent to defraud, allegedly used false pretence to offer Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) below the official depot selling price.
He said that the product was the property of AA Rano Nigeria Limited.
The source further disclosed that the suspects brought five articulated vehicles with different number plates to the company for the loading of PMS products as part of the alleged scheme.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani, ordered that the case be transfered from Agboju Police Station to State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) Panti, for further investigation.
Speaking, one of the suspects, who admitted involvement in the scheme, said they did not belong to any recognised union operating at the depot.
He said that he and others attempted to purchase over 60,000 litres of PMS using about 40 trucks, with suspicious pricing arrangements and unverified truck numbers.
According to him, the irregularities were detected by the Chief Security Officer of AA Rano Nigeria Limited, who ordered their immediate arrest before handing them over to the police for appropriate action.
However, in furtherance to sanity and Crime free society, under The Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, ordered the transfer of case file from Agboju Divisional Police Station to DCP Dayo Akinbisehin led State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti Yaba Lagos for further investigation. The Commissioner of Police also commended the action of management of AA Rano Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited for promptly alerting the police in nipping the criminal scheme in the bud and also admonished other players in the oil and gas industry operating in Lagos State to emulate this noble virtue.
Police source reveals that investigations had been concluded while the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti is not looking back in arraigning the suspects in court soonest in accordance with the provisions of the rule of law.
The command further reiterates it’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and useful information to the police.
