*Photo L-R: Ridwan Wale Ajetunmobi(owner), Mahmoud Abdullahi( alleged thief)*
The Nasarawa State Government has said the man who allegedly stole an iPhone 17 Pro Max during the recently concluded National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Eagle Square, Abuja is not its staff as being widely claimed.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to an aide to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ridwan Wale Ajetunmobi, was allegedly stolen at the convention by one Mahmoud Abdullahi, said to be a staff member of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry has however denied knowing the man.
In a disclaimer by its Management, it said “The attention of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice has been drawn to a viral report on social media regarding the theft of an iPhone 17 Pro Max during the APC National Convention at Eagle Square, Abuja, and the arrest of a suspect identified as Mahmoud Abdullahi.
“The Ministry hereby categorically states that Mahmoud Abdullahi, who was apprehended in connection with the alleged theft, is not a staff member of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice, nor is he affiliated with the Ministry in any capacity.
“While the incident reportedly occurred during the APC National Convention, the attempt to link the suspect to the Ministry is false, misleading, and should be disregarded.
“The Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice remains a professional and ethical institution, committed to upholding justice, integrity, and the rule of law.
” The Ministry does not condone criminal activities or any form of misconduct.
“The public and media are urged to verify information before dissemination to prevent reputational damage to credible institutions.”
Relating how the phone was stolen and recovered, Ajetunmobi, in an account shared on his X handle, said the theft incident occurred at the VVIP entrance of Eagle Square amid chaotic scenes triggered by multiple security checkpoints and attempts by unaccredited persons to gain access.
He recalled that “In the ensuing disorderliness, my iPhone 17 Pro Max (2TB) was ‘moved’ from my side pocket, which was quite deep. I was momentarily dazed by the excitement of the Governors’ grand entrance into the venue. ‘Where is my phone?’ I exclaimed.
“Everything seemed blank before I came to terms with the fact that I had been robbed. My Charmast power bank and AirPods were the only working tools left on me. How would I work with such hardware?” he said.
He added that he continued with activities at the venue before activating Apple’s tracking system.
“I opened my iPad and tracked the whereabouts of my missing iPhone 17 Pro Max. To my surprise, the device was already in Wuse Zone 6, about 8km away from Eagle Square where it was picked.
“I called the phone repeatedly but no answer. I texted it, pleading, as it is my main workstation. The ‘Mover’ didn’t move. I could not sleep. I managed to sleep around 3:50am and woke up by 5:30am. After I prayed Fajr, I started tracking the iPhone again on my ‘Find My’ app.”
He said the signal later shifted to Karu, prompting him to seek police intervention.
“I was curious. I placed a call to a top police officer in Abuja for help. He quickly contacted Mr. Victor Geoffrey, an Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander of Scorpion Squad, Abuja, who immediately activated his team for recovery of the phone.
“The police team, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isah Mohammed, started trailing and tracking the suspect who stole the phone… at 8:20am. At 10:50am, we tracked the iPhone to a location in Karu, near NNPC Filling Station.”
“The policemen called me and asked me to join them. I was tracking from my iPad and the distance was closing in on the phone. At a roadside car lot close to Karu Bridge, my iPad beeped and showed my phone was close to where my driver (Mallam Idrissa) and I parked our vehicle.
“I came down and walked into the car lot; the 3D map of ‘Find My’ app led me to a shed that looked like a makeshift mosque where some 15 people (mostly in their 50s) were sitting and chatting away. I pretended I wanted to pray. As I sat on a bench, then my iPad beeped and indicated the phone was exactly where I sat. I signalled at the police clad in mufti, who were stealthily following me, and they moved in.”
“I was impressed. They asked to see the Head of the car lot. An elderly man (looking in his 60s) came out and he was properly briefed about their mission. The car lot’s head confirmed the people sitting under the shed were coming from Eagle Square after attending APC Convention but their extraordinary SUV (branded with the face of a governorship aspirant in Nasarawa State) had an overheating issue. So, they had to stop by for repair before proceeding to Keffi.”
“After searching five persons, the next person to be searched started getting nervous. Lo and behold: my iPhone slipped out of Mahmoud’s trousers.
“The phone was off due to low battery. But I had my power bank with me to power it on. I was told to type my passcode; then the phone came alive.”
“Mahmoud who claimed to be working with Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice, stole my phone during the chaotic moment at the VVIP entrance of Eagle Square. The suspect was arrested.”
Ajetunmobi commended the police team for their swift response in recovering his stolen phone, saying
“Many thanks to these highly professional men of the Nigeria Police Force. This crime-busting team led by ASP Isah Mohammed comprises ASP Douglas Ishaku, Inspector John Emmanuel and Inspector Gana Mohammed. These guys are wonderful.”