How Married NNPC Driver Lost Company’s Vehicle In Lover’s House

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A married NNPC driver, Wasiu Aliu, has landed in trouble after he took the company’s Toyota Hiace bus worth about N23 million to his lover’s house and robbers stole the bus at night.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Assfood Street, Oriola, Alapere area of Lagos, where his lover resides.

While Aliu, who is the father of two kids, abandoned his wife at home and was busy engaging his lover in marathon sex, robbers unlocked the bus and escaped with it.

When he woke up in the morning and discovered that the staff bus had been stolen, he went to Alapere Police Division and reported the incident.

He was subsequently arrested and later charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for stealing the bus on the ground that he parked the bus at an unsafe spot and unauthorised location.

The 36-year old Aliyu told the Police that he had been driving the bus for over three years, stating that he had no hand in the stealing.

He said, “I was employed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation as a casual worker. At about 8pm on January 21, I went to my girlfriend’s house in Oriola to pass the night. A man came to wake me up around 4am that he saw some boys inside the bus”.

“Before I got to where the bus was, they had left with it. It was a mistake that I parked the bus on the street because there was no security there.”

But the manager, Osele Philips, in his statement, said that a specific and safe garage was provided for the driver to park the vehicle, saying the company suspected foul play.

He said, “The 18-seater vehicle is owned by the firm but used as the NNPC staff bus. On January 22, our driver attached to the staff bus called me at 7am and told me the staff bus had been stolen where he parked it to greet his sister after washing it”.

“It was when I got to the Police station that I knew the bus was stolen on January 22 at 4am and not January 21 as he earlier told me. The bus was stolen where he was not supposed to park it. With his action and the circumstances surrounding the theft of the vehicle, he is a prime suspect. The value of the vehicle is N23m.”

A Police prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, who brought Mr. Aliyu before the Court, said he had allegedly committed an offence, which contravenes sections 285 (1) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Aliyu pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Akokhia, admitted him on bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum while the case was adjourned till April 18, for mention.