The Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, ordered the remand of Saheed Azeez, a 42-year-old vulcaniser, for allegedly selling a car worth N10 million car that he was entrusted to him for sale and converted to personal use.
Azeez was brought before Magistrate O.Y. Adefope by the Lagos State Police Command.
Azeez faced a two-count charge, including unlawfully selling a vehicle that wasn’t his property, and theft.
The charges alleged that sometime in 2021, at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos, he stole one Toyota 2008 Model car worth N10,000,250 belonging to one 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 the defendant and the victim were business partners, and the victim usually sent cars to Nigeria for Azeez to sell, but he 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, the defendant was arrested and questioned. It was discovered that he was a vulcaniser and sold cars to people by the road, and he converted the money for personal use.
Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offences were committed in 2021 at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos and 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 alleged against him.
Magistrate O.Y. Adefope set bail at N500,000 and required two sureties.
The magistrate ruled that the defendant, Saheed Azeez, be held in police custody until he fulfills the specified bail terms.
The court proceedings have been postponed until July 24, 2024, when the case will be revisited for further proceedings.
