MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 67-year old man, Azeez Babatunde, has landed in trouble in Lagos State after he parked a mini bus worth N4.5m on the street against the directive of the owner and robbers stole the vehicle at night.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the owner, Princess Toyin Akamo, handed him over to the Police for stealing and was charged before the Court over the missing vehicle.
The incident happened on 8th June, 2025, at Shasha area of Lagos, where the mini bus with registration number SMK 753 YK was parked.
According to the Police, the complainant warned and directed where he will park the vehicle but he ignored her and parked it where it was stolen.
When Mr. Azeez woke up in the morning, went where he parked the vehicle and did not see it, he informed the owner that it was missing.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area M Command, Idimu and the man was arrested. He was detained at the Command to produce the vehicle and he was unable to do so.
He was subsequently charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Azeez Babatunde ‘M’ on 8th June, 2025 at Shasha area of Lagos State in The Lagos Magisterial District, did steal one mini bus with registration number SMK 753 YK valued four million five hundred thousand naira (N4, 500,000.00) property of one Princess Toyin Akamo ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015”.
COUNT III: “That you, Azeez Babatunde ‘M’ on the same date, place and time in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a disorderly manner likely to cause breach of peace by refusing to park a mini bus with Reg No. SMK 753 YK at the owner’s office as instructed, instead you took the vehicle to your own personal house and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015”.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A.Popoola, 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.