KINGSLEY EBERE
A 55-year-old man, Kayode Onatola, has landed in trouble in Lagos State after he collected a vehicle to drive on hire purchase but secretly sold it at a give away price without informing the owner and pocketed the money.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the owner later discovered and handed him over to the Police for prosecution.
The suspect, Onatola, has been charged before the Ikorodu Magistrate Court over the alleged theft and breach of public peace.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Adegeshin Famuyiwa, told the Court that Onatola committed the offences at 4.00pm, on 16th April, 2023, at Ile-Epo Oba, Ikorodu, Lagos.
She told the Court that the defendant unlawfully sold a Volkswagen bus with Reg No. KJA 560 XD, belonging to the complainant, Alaba Sikiru and bolted away with the money.
“The defendant, Sikiru gave the bus to Onatola on hire purchase, but he sold it for N320,000 without the complainant’s consent and converted the money to his own use.”
”He conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace. He also converted the money to his personal use,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor told the Court that the alleged offences contravened Sections 168(b) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Onatola pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor 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, A.O. Ogbe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified.
The matter was adjourned till 6th June, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.