KINGSLEY EBERE
A 47-year-old man, Yakubu Hammed, has been arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja over allegations of car fraud at Murtala Muhammed Airport involving two Toyota Corolla cars valued at $13,550, according to a charge sheet obtained by http://pmexpressng.com. The defendant was arraigned before the Ikeja Magisterial District court on a two-count charge marked NOC/2026. The case was filed by the Commissioner of Police against Yakubu Hammed ‘m’.
According to Count 1 on the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that on February 14, 2024, at RCN Networks Limited, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Yakubu Hammed obtained two Toyota Corolla cars by means of fraudulent trick or device.
The charge sheet stated that the vehicles were valued at thirteen thousand, five hundred and fifty US Dollars, equivalent to twenty million, two hundred and ninety-seven thousand, nine hundred Naira, property of Agboola Abiola, Managing Director of RCN Networking Limited, Ikeja.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant failed to deliver the cars to Nigeria from the United States of America as agreed. The alleged act in Count 1 is contrary to and punishable under Section 323(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Count 2 of the charge sheet alleged that on April 3, 2024, at RCN Networks Limited, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the defendant dishonestly took the two Toyota Corolla cars valued at $13,550.
The prosecution further alleged that Yakubu Hammed converted the vehicles to his own use, property of Agboola Abiola, the Managing Director of RCN Networking Limited, Ikeja.
The alleged act in Count 2 is contrary to Section 280(1)(b) and punishable under Section 287(10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge sheet indicated that the matter was handled by the International Airport Division, Ikeja, under SP Oladipupo Taiwo, Divisional Police Officer.
Court documents showed that the location of the alleged offences was at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, both within the Ikeja Magisterial District.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Adeitan Oluwabunmi, then asked the Court for a hearing date to enable the Police to prove the allegations.
The Presiding Magistrate, M.A. Agbaje, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment, with addresses to be verified by the Court. The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, pending perfection of bail conditions.
It is important to note that all allegations contained in the charge sheet remain allegations until proven in court. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty under Nigerian law and Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution.
http://pmexpressng.com will continue to monitor proceedings at the Ikeja Magistrate Court and report updates as the case progresses. Efforts to reach the defendant for comment were not successful as at press time. Our offer to publish his side of the story remains open.