KINGSLEY EBERE
A 47-year old painter, Oluwagbemi Feyitimi, has landed in trouble in Lagos State after an unregistered Suzuki mini bus with chassis No. DA62V-401596 valued N3,200,000, which was entrusted to him to paint got missing.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the bus got missing on 22nd March, 2026, where he parked it on the street at Church Street, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.
The owner of the bus, Oluwatoyin Modinat Afuye ‘F’ did not agree with his presentation. She then went to the Police at Iju Division and reported that the painter stole her vehicle.
The Police moved into action, arrested and detained him for interrogation as the painter claimed that he parked the vehicle on the street without any security guards.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy and stealing, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Oluwagbemi Feyitimi ‘M’ and others now at large on the 22nd day of March, 2026, at about 0700a.m at No. 14, Church Street, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 111 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Oluwagbemi Feyitimi ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District ,did steal one unregistered Suzuki mini bus with chassis No. DA62V-401596 valued N3,200,000 (three million, two hundred thousand Naira only), property of one Oluwatoyin Modinat Afuye ‘F’ and and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Oluwagbemi Feyitimi ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did abandon the unregistered Suzuki mini bus with Chassis No. DA62V-401596 entrusted in your care to paint, which you parked by the roadside at No. 14, Church Street, Iju-Ishaga, without any security and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, 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. L.A. Owolabi, 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 till 22nd April, 2024, 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.