NAN-H-37
Tricycle
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Aug.30, 2017(NAN) A 36-year-old tricycle driver, Solomon Ajayi, who allegedly stole a tricycle valued at N880,000 appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday.
The accused was arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr J.A Adigun, on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.
Ajayi, who resides at Alakuko area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in the like sum.
Adigun said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 18 at Oluwatoyin Street, Akinde Alakuko, Lagos.
He said that the accused fraudulently obtained the tricycle from Mr Owolabi Anthony under the pretence of paying him in instalment.
“The accused approached the complainant to give him his new tricycle, that he would be paying in instalment” he said.
Awase said that after the complainant gave Ajayi the tricycle, the accused called him after few days to inform him that the tricycle was missing.
“The accused called the complainant that his tricycle had been stolen from where he kept it. Since the day he called, he was nowhere to be found.
“Efforts to get him proved unsuccessful as he refused to pick the complainant’s calls.
“He was later arrested after five months of his disappearance.”
The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused may be jailed for 15 years, if found guilty of obtaining goods under false pretence, according to the provisions of Section 314
The case has been adjourned until Sept. 8 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed