NAN-H-14
Tricycle
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Dec.14, 2017 (NAN) Two tricycle operators, Chukwudi Nwachukwu and Christian Onyebieke, risk a three-year jail term, if found guilty of stealing a tricycle valued at N700,000.
The accused, Nwachukwu, 24 and Onyebieke, 29 residing at Momodu Street, Agege area of Lagos, were on Thursday docked before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, facing charges of conspiracy and stealing.
They, however, pleaded not guilty and were admitted to a bail of N50, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum by Magistrate J.A. Adigun.
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, said that the accused committed the offences on Nov.12 at their residence.
Awase said that the accused conspired to steal the tricycle valued at N700, 000 being the property of Mrs Ebele Anyayi.
He told the court that the complainant gave her new tricycle to Nwachukwu on hire purchase and Onyebieke, who live with him, stood as guarantor.
“She showed him a particular filling station where the tricycle should be parked for a fee to secure it.
“After the accused collected the tricycle, he rebuffed the complainant’s warning and advice and took the tricycle to his house,’’ he said.
The prosecutor said that the following morning, the accused called the complainant, informing her that the tricycle had been stolen.
According to Awase, the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for offenders, upon conviction.
The case was adjourned until Jan. 9 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/AIB/GOK
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Olagoke Olatoye