By Afeez Hanafi
A diamond jewellery dealer, Jafar Sulaiman, lured into a hotel in the Magodo area of Lagos State, has escaped murder and robbery.
Suspected fraudsters – Victory Aminu, 20, and Lekan Arowolo, 22 – had reportedly reached out to Sulaiman, who sells diamond jewellery online, under false pretence that they wanted to buy a diamond bracelet from him.
They were said to have invited him to an eatery in Magodo penultimate Saturday and consequently led him to the hotel on CMD Road, where they promised to pay for the item.
A source told Daily Trust that Aminu and Sulaiman first entered the facility before Arowolo later joined them, adding that Aminu smuggled in a knife and an axe.
It was gathered that after collecting the bracelet, the duo wanted to flee the hotel room without paying Sulaiman. They also reportedly attempted to attack him when he raised the alarm.
“In the ensuing scuffle, some hotel workers who were alerted by the noise rushed to the room to find out what was happening. That was when a knife and an axe were found on the two young men who were trying to attack the diamond jewellery dealer,” the source said.
Another source said the suspects were handed over to the Isheri Police Station and the bracelet was recovered from them.
“They (the suspects) checked in the evening and paid N4,000 for short rest at the apartment where the act was perpetuated,” he added.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the incident to our reporter, noting that the state Commissioner of Police, Alabi Abiodun, had directed that the suspects should be charged after investigation.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects met around 12pm that Saturday at Arepo Bus stop, “where Aminu intimated Arowolo of his intention to defraud an online diamond jewellery seller.”
Ajisebutu stated, “The suspects are being investigated for robbery and attempted murder. Around 4pm that day, they both invited the seller to an eatery before heading for a hotel in Magodo to accomplish their evil intentions. Aminu left with Sulaiman who brought the diamond bracelet on a bike while Arowolo went to meet them.
“Aminu smuggled a knife and an axe into the hotel and Arowolo on getting there, picked the bracelet, wore it, and forcefully wanted to leave the hotel room without payment. It was then it dawned on Sulaiman the gimmick the two suspects were playing.
“There was a bloody scuffle amongst them, which aroused the attention of the hotel management as both Aminu and Arowolo were on their way out of the hotel with their stolen loot before they were apprehended. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that discreet investigation be carried out and that suspects be charged appropriately.”
