Amechanic in Lafia, Nasarawa State, John Simon, has got more than he bargainedfor as a customer’s car he drove to a brothel in the New Nyanya area of the
state was stolen.It was learnt that Simon wasin the middle of an overnight romp with a sex worker, Stella Emeerga, when the2014 Toyota Camry car was taken away by three men in connivance with Emeerga.
It was gathered that Simon, a father of two, stopped by at the brothel whiletravelling to Abuja to deliver the vehicle to his customer who is a car dealer.
While he was drunk in thebrothel, one of the accomplices reportedly sneaked in and picked the car key onthe floor.
At dawn, when he did not findthe car where it was parked, Simon reported the incident at the New NyanyaPolice Station and he and Emeerga were arrested.
After months of investigationat the station without headway, the owner of the car was said to havepetitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the case wastransferred to IG’s Intelligence Response Team.
One of the suspects, MondayFrancis, recently arrested by the operatives owned up to the crime.
The 30-year-old suspect saidthe theft was planned together with Emeerga, noting that the car was with amember of the gang who is still at large.
He stated, “We were fourincluding Stella (Emeerga) that planned to steal the car when the driver(Simon) arrived at the brothel. We planned to make it look as if Stella wasinnocent. I pretended that I wanted water from her and she came out of her roomwhile one of us quietly opened the door and took the car key.
“Stella told us that the manwas drunk and that we could try. Dodo and Ezekiel took the car away. They gaveit to one buyer who is on the run. Boys hang around the brothel to steal fromanyone who is careless. Most of them will sleep off. We will enter their roomsand steal their valuables.”
But Emeerga, 25, who said Simon had been her customer for over a year, deniedconniving with the gang to steal the car.
She said she did not realisethe vehicle had been stolen until in the morning when she discovered that apiece of cloth she used to block a big hole on her door had been removed.
She stated, “That day, Simonsaw me hanging outside the brothel waiting for a customer. He took me and hisfriend, Junior, to an ATM point in Maraba to withdraw money. We came back andstayed outside till around 12am. I told him that I want to go and sleep as Iwas feeling cold. He told me that he wanted to sleep with me that night. Iresisted but since there was no customer, I obliged him.
“Around 1am, I heard someoneknock at my door. I ignored it but the person knocked again. It turned out tobe Francis. I opened the door and explained to him that I have a guest. He thenasked me if I had water and I said no.
“Hepleaded with me to help him collect water from the bar. I followed him andlocked my door because I know bad boys might enter my room. Simon was awake butlying down. I came back and we slept. In the morning, our landlady knocked atmy door that I should bring my N1,500 levy. We normally contribute N1,500 everymonth to settle security men.
“I discovered that a hole onmy door was opened. I normally used cloth to block it. I never knew thatsomething had happened. It was when Simon finished bathing and could not findthe key that I realised that someone could have accessed my room through thathole. We went outside and discovered that the car was no longer where it wasparked. We went to New Nyaya Police Station and reported the matter. They tookour statement and detained us.”
Narrating how she went intoprostitution, Emeerga said she was married with two children before things tooka drastic turn in 2015 when her husband became mentally ill.
Emeerga said, “He was in theuniversity to do a degree programme when he became mad. He killed one of mychildren and I returned to my parents’ house. I was not doing anything, so oneof my friends in Nasarawa asked me to come over last November. I knew that sheis a prostitute and I started hustling too.
“I have lost count of thenumber of men I have slept with but in a day if the market is booming, I get upto eight persons. The amount we charge depends on the bargaining power. Ifthere is no customer especially during this coronavirus period that men ranaway, we collect N500 per customer.”
In his account, Simon said hesaw Emeerga leaving the room but he did not suspect any criminal intent.
“I am a mechanic and a driver.My customer called me to drive his car to Abuja and I decided to relax a bitwith Stella (Emeerga). I have known her for about a year. We stopped at a barand drank.
“I didn’t know anyone enteredher room. I saw her when she left, but I didn’t bother to stand up. She cameback and we made love after which I slept off. It was when I woke up that I
discovered that the key was missing.”