Car theft: Company driver changes plea, gets N100,000 bail

NAN-H-41
Plea
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Feb. 16, 2017 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Thursday granted a 29-year-old company driver, Clement Agbara, bail after he changed his guilty plea to not guilty.

Agbara, who resides at Agidigbin,in Lagos, was arraigned on Jan. 19 and is facing a charge of stealing.

The court had remanded the accused in Kirikiri Prison for admitting guilt.

But as the Magistrate was about to pronounce sentence on him on Thursday, the accused changed his plea, saying he did not understand the charge earlier read to him.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs T. Akanni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, alleged that the accused stole a Toyota Corolla saloon car on Dec. 22, 2016, on Iju Road, Agege, Lagos, and took it to Ondo State.

Ogu said the accused was instructed to take the car to the company’s mechanic for servicing, instead he absconded with the car.

“He converted the car to his own without the consent of his employer.

“All efforts to trace the accused were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.”

The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 which carries a penalty of three years imprisonment.

The case has been adjourned to Feb. 27 for mention.(NAN)
DOA/KOO/DA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Dele Akinsola