My landlord stole plasma TV but police arrested me as accomplice — Suspect

A suspect, Lawrence Eregbula, has said he was arrested by the police as an accomplice because his landlord, Goodluck John, stole a plasma television in Benin City, Edo State.

The suspect was among suspects paraded by the Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, over alleged involvement in armed robbery, cultism, murder and kidnapping, among others.

Chidi said the duo stole a plasma television and other items on the Amagba axis of Benin and were arrested by the police.

Speaking with journalists, Lawrence said, “I am a block moulder and Keke rider. John is my landlord; I rented a room in his three-bedroom apartment at Amagba.

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“I was in my Oga house moulding blocks when I heard that my landlord was involved in stealing and has been arrested. So, after the work, I went back home.

“I was in my wife’s shop when vigilantes came and asked me to follow them to their office without telling me my offence. When we reached there, I asked what my offence was, and they said I should wait; that when we got to the police command, I would know what happened.

“On getting to the station, I met my landlord there and the police told me that he was arrested for stealing a plasma television and that I was also involved in it.

“I told them that I didn’t know anything about the theft and I was not involved. I am a Keke rider and I help people to carry loads but they insisted that I was involved in the crime and put me in handcuff.”

On his part, Lawrence’s landlord, Goodluck John, said Lawrence wasn’t involved in the theft.

“He (Lawrence) didn’t know whether we stole the items. I am his landlord but we didn’t tell him that the items he would carry for us were stolen goods.

“My friend Joseph is the one who usually steals the items and brings them for me to sell. This robbery, I didn’t follow Joseph to go for it but he brought the items to my place and the police traced them to my house.

“Joseph ran away and I was arrested. Lawrence has never followed us for any operation and was not aware that the items he carried were stolen goods,” he said.