Commercial driver charged with stealing employer's bus valued at N1m

A 32-year old driver, Kunle Lawal, who allegedly stole a car valued at N1 million belonging to his employer, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Lawal, who resides at No. 25, Ibido St., Orile-Agege, Lagos, is facing a charge of stealing.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 12 at Agege, Lagos.

He said that the accused collected a Mazda bus with registration number XK 171S MK valued at N1 million, property of one Mr Olaniyi Oladimeji.

Olatunde said that before the complainant released his bus, he showed the accused where to park the vehicle after the close of daily business.

"The complainant took the accused to a place that was safe with security guards where he would park the bus before finally handing the vehicle keys to him."

The prosecutor said that some days later, the accused called the complainant to inform him that the bus had been stolen in front of his house where he parked it.

Olatunde said that all efforts made by the complainant to recover his bus had proved unsuccessful as the accused felt unconcerned.

The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 285 prescribes a three- year jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.K. Komolafe, granted the accused N250,000 bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Aug. 3 for trial.