Hire Purchase Manager Arraigned For Diverting Owner’s N8.9m Proceeds

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A vehicle hire purchase manager, Emmanuel Alfred, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling the owner of the vehicles entrusted to him to manage to the tune of N8.9m from proceeds.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 11th August,  2021 at Legit Drive Hill off Ojodu Berger, Lagos where the defendant collected the vehicles and swindled the complainant.
According to the Police,  the defendant,  Alfred collected three vehicles from the owner, Barry Sule  to manage and remit the money realized from the drivers as agreed.
However,  while he was collecting the money from the drivers he was diverting and was given the complainant flimsy excuses before the matter was reported to the Police at Area G Command headquarters,  Ogba,Lagos.
The Police arrested and detained him at the Command for interrogation and it was discovered that the drivers were actually paying the money but he was not remiting it to the complainant.
He was found culpable and charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal law of the State which attracts several years of imprisonment if he was tried and found guilty before Court.

The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Emmanuel Alfred ‘m’ on the 11th day of August, 2021 at about 1100hrs at Legit Drive Hill off Ojodu Berger, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain two Toyota Camry cars, one Sienna space bus and one Suzuki Minibus from one Barry Sule ‘m’ under the pretence that you will manage them on hire purchase, a presentation you know to be false and hereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II: “That you, Emmanuel Alfred ‘m’ on the same date, time id place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal by converting the sum of (N8,900,000.00) Eight million nine hundred thousand Naira only, being the proceeds from hire purchase cars (1) one Toyota Camry, One Sienna space bus, One Suzuki mini bus and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor,Supol  Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.