The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos State, on Monday remanded 42-year-old vulcaniser Saheed Azeez for allegedly selling a car worth N10 million, which he was asked to sell, and converting the money for personal use.
Azeez was arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command before Magistrate O.Y. Adefope on two counts: behaving in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by selling a vehicle that did not belong to him, and theft.
The charges allege that sometime in 2021, at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos, he stole a Toyota 2008 model car worth N10,000,250 belonging to Oluwaseyi Ogolo.
It was gathered that the victim’s elder brother reported the incident on his behalf, as the victim was based in the United States. It was alleged that Azeez and the victim were business partners, and the victim usually sent cars to Nigeria for Azeez to sell. However, Azeez sold a Toyota 2008 model car worth N10,000,250 in 2021 and refused to send the money to the owner of the vehicle.
After the report was made, Azeez was arrested and questioned. It was discovered that he was a vulcaniser who sold cars to people by the road and converted the money for personal use.
Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offences were committed in 2021 at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos. He stated that the alleged offences contravened Sections 168(d) and 280(1) and are punishable under Section 287(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. He also stated that there was evidence that the car was sold and that the defendant used the money for personal purposes.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate O.Y. Adefope ordered a bail bond of N500,000 to be paid and two sureties to be provided. She further ordered the defendant to be remanded in police custody until he perfected the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until July 24, 2024, for further hearing.
