2 men docked for allegedly stealing vehicle worth N1.7m

Two men, Popoola Sunday, 55, and Ibu Patrick, 43, were on Thursday arraigned before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing a Toyota Sienna bus valued at N1.7 million, NAN reports.

The police charged the defendants, of No. 3/5 Taofeek Street, off Ali-Hiba, Ota, with stealing and conspiracy.

The police prosecutor, Insp E. O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences between 2018 and August 2022 at their residence.

Adaraloye said Sunday sold a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number APP 158 FK, valued at N1.7 million, to the second defendant (Patrick) without the consent of Titilola Oyelade, the complainant.

He added that Oyelade, who lived abroad, entrusted the Toyota bus into the care of Sunday so that she could use the vehicle whenever she visited Nigeria, but Popoola sold the vehicle without informing her.

Adaraloye said the offences contravened Sections 390 (10a) and 516 of the Criminal Code Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, Mrs A.O. Adeyemi, admitted each of the defendants to N200,000 bail with one surety each in like sum.

Adeyemi ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Ogun State Government.

She adjourned the case until December 1 for further hearing.