A 52-year-old mechanic, Abiodun Sikiru, who allegedly absconded with his customer’s car valued at N2.8m, was brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Sikiru, who lives at 63 Akinwale Street, Igando, Lagos, is facing four counts bordering on breach of peace, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the police prosecutor, Michael Unah, the accused stole one Ford Focus car with number plate AX 709 KUJ, valued at N2.8m, the property of one Mr Jimie Enobong.
Unah said the accused committed the offences sometime in February 2016 at 237 Ikorodu Road, Ilupeju, Lagos.
He added that the accused unlawfully obtained the sum of N500,000 from the complainant on the pretext of using it to fix the gearbox of the car, a representation he knew to be false.
Unah also affirmed that the accused conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by driving away the said car for repairs, but took it to an unknown destination without the consent of the owner.
“The accused collected the car from the complainant for repair two years ago. He did not repair the car or refund the money for its repair. All efforts made to retrieve the car from him proved abortive,” the prosecutor stated.
The offences, according to him, contravene sections 168, 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).
Unah said Section 314 of the law prescribed a 15-year jail term for false pretences, while Section 287 stipulated seven years for stealing.
The presiding magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Fashola said the sureties must be gainfully employed with evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.
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