A 30-year old man, Godwin Chibueze, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly selling two tricycles worth over N5.8m, which were given to him by the owner, Olayanju Abdullahi, on hire purchase.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Kolawole Street, ljeododo area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect contacted the complainant and asked him to get the tricycles for him on hire purchase. They agreed on the conditions before he bought the tricycles and handed them over to him.
However, after he collected the tricycles, he sold them and started giving flimsy excuses as he was not remitting the money to the complainant as earlier agreed for several months.
The complainant decided to take back the tricycles and asked him to return them since he cannot honour their agreement. He refused to return them and the matter was reported to the Police at Isheri Oshun Division. The suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police discovered that he had sold the tricycles without the consent of the complainant and did not remit the money either.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, GODWIN CHIBUEZE ‘M’ and others now at large between November, 2024 to 1st October, 2025, at Kolawole Street, ljeododo, Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by selling two TVS tricycles belonging to one Olayanju Abdulahi ‘M’ given to you on hire purchase without his consent, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168(d) of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, GODWIN CHIBUEZE ‘M’ and others now at large, within the same period at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit stealing of Two TVS tricycles belonging to one Olayanju Abdulahi ‘M’ given to you on hire purchase, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, GODWIN CHIBUEZE ‘M’ and others now at large within the same period at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal two TVS tricycles with the following registration numbers LSR 959 QP, and JJJ 883 QN valued N3,300,000.00 and N2,550,000.00 respectively total valued N5,850,000,00 given to you on hire purchase by one Olayanju Abdulahi ‘M’, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos Dtate Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, 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 in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 3rd November, 2025, 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.