The Senior Special Assistant on Media to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Wale Ajetunmobi, has recounted how his mobile phone was stolen and later recovered during the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention held at Eagle Square, Abuja
Ajetunmobi disclosed the incident in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, explaining that the theft occurred amid a chaotic crowd at the venue’s VVIP entrance.
According to him, the presence of multiple security checkpoints, coupled with attempts by unauthorised individuals to gain access, created confusion and disorder at the final entry point.
“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,” he said.
He added that the loss left him temporarily stranded, as his remaining devices, a power bank and AirPods, were insufficient for his official duties.
Despite the incident, Ajetunmobi proceeded into the venue and later initiated efforts to recover the device using Apple’s tracking feature. The phone was traced through the “Find My” system from his iPad.
Tracking data initially showed the device in Wuse Zone 6, approximately eight kilometres from Eagle Square, before it later moved toward Karu, a suburb on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory.
The governor’s aide said he contacted a senior police officer, prompting swift intervention from operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
A team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Isah Mohammed subsequently tracked the suspect to a roadside car lot near Karu Bridge.
According to Ajetunmobi, the suspect was among a group of individuals returning from the convention whose vehicle had reportedly developed a fault, forcing them to stop for repairs.
The situation unfolded when police officers requested to search members of the group.
While several individuals were cleared, one suspect reportedly became visibly nervous.
“Lo and behold, my iPhone slipped out of Mahmoud Abdullahi’s trousers,” Ajetunmobi stated, adding that the device had been switched off due to low battery but was later powered on using his power bank.
The suspect, identified as Mahmoud Abdullahi, was immediately arrested. He reportedly claimed to be affiliated with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice.
Ajetunmobi commended the professionalism and prompt response of the police officers, noting that their intervention was instrumental in recovering the stolen device.
The APC national convention drew high-profile attendance, including President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and party delegates from across the country.
