KINGSLEY EBERE
A 30-year old commercial driver, Luke Samuel, has been sentenced and ordered to pay N500,000 to the owner of the commercial bus, which he sold on auction and bolted away with the money just a day after his employment in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. O.O. Salami, of the Ogba Magistrate Court, who found him guilty of conspiracy and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The incident happened on 27th February, 2024, at Onireke area of Ojo where he collected the bus, sold it for N200,000, bolted away and then disconnected every communication he had with the owner.
According to the Police, the convict, Samuel, collected a Suzuki shuttle bus worth N1m from the owner after they had reached an agreement that he will be delivering certain amount of money and the bus was handed over to him.
However, that particular day the bus was handed over to him, he sold it, went away with the money and was nowhere to be found for several months.
After several months, he was eventually apprehended at Alaba International Market and handed over to Police operatives from the Tactical Team, Okokomaiko, Lagos, for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged before the Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
Initially, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses were to be verified by the Court.
When the matter was adjourned for trial, he changed and pleaded guilty. Thus, the prosecutor, Supol Oje Uagbale, then presented the facts of the matter and asked the Court to sentence him accordingly.
The Presiding Magistrate, Salami, found him guilty as charged and sentenced him for two months each for the two count charges and ordered him to pay the money to the complainant.