By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA— An Abeokuta Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Isabo has remanded a 35-year-old pregnant fake police officer, Iyabo Ojulari-Abideen, in prison custody over alleged theft of Honda Accord valued at N4.5 million. The police prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused committed the offences on October 20, 2014, at Opic Roundabout, Oke-Ilewo, in Abeokuta.

According to him, the  accused stole one unregiste-red Honda Accord, Crosstour 2011 model car valued at N4.5 million, property of one Gbemisola Saburi. He said: “Ojulari-Abideen approached Saburi, a car dealer at Oke-Ile, dressed in police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and introduced herself as a policewoman with the intention to purchase a car.

“The accused told the dealer that she was sent by the Commissioner of Police and that a cheque will be forwarded to the dealer. “Ojulari-Abideen absconded with the car to Ibadan and then later to Port Harcourt, where she was arrested by the Police. “In the course of investigation, Police gathered that the accused had been convicted twice on the same charge in Kaduna and Osogbo.”

The prosecutor submitted that the alleged offences contravened Sections 516, 383 (2) (a), 390 (9) and 109 (a) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006. The accused, who has no fixed address and occupation, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and impersonation. Ojulari-Abideen, whose plea was not taken by the court, was represented by Mr. Ganiyu Ogunsanwo.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Anthony Araba, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, adding that she should be allowed access to medical facilities because of her condition. He then adjourned the case to March 24 for consideration of bail.