The Niger State Police Command says it has arrested three suspects over the alleged mass production and sale of counterfeit motorcycle and tricycle number plates in Suleja Local Government Area of the state, amidst growing insecurity threats.
The suspects, identified as Obinna Sunday, Sunday Fajobi and Aisha Ismail, between the ages of 21 and 71, were arrested following a complaint over fake number plates found on tricycles operated by a leasing company in the area.
Confirming the development, spokesman for the police, Superintendent Wasi’u Abiodun, said the complaint was lodged at the Maje Police Division, Suleja, on September 29, after officials of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) raised concerns about the authenticity of number plates on tricycles belonging to the company.
Abiodun said the complaint prompted detectives at the division to commence an investigation, which led to the arrest of the three suspects..
He said preliminary investigations indicated that Sunday and Fajobi allegedly posed as VIO officials and facilitated the sale of more than 60 counterfeit motorcycle and tricycle number plates bearing Kaduna and Nasarawa State inscriptions to unsuspecting operators.
Police said a search of one of the suspects’ premises also led to the recovery of 10 newly printed counterfeit motorcycle and tricycle number plates bearing Kano State inscriptions.
Other items recovered, according to the command, included 61 fake motorcycle and tricycle number plates, two laptop computers, two electronic printing machines, fake insurance documents allegedly used in registering the plates and 870,000 naira suspected to be proceeds of the illicit business.
The police said interrogation of the suspects produced further leads, including Obinna, who allegedly confessed to purchasing the counterfeit plates from Aisha for N40,000, while Aisha reportedly admitted selling the plates to him after obtaining them from one Bala Ibrahim, who she identified as an alleged VIO officer serving in Abuja.
Though Ibrahim, is currently at large, according to the police, the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, where they were being detained while investigations continued.
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Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu
