A 39-year-old car dealer, Joseph Lawrence, who allegedly stole a Mercedes Benz worth N25 million, on Wednesday appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The police charged Lawrence, who resides in No 4 Lateef St., Ogoyo Estate in Ajah, with two counts of conspiracy and theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Akeem Raji, told the court that the defendant stole a Mercedes Benz SS5 valued at N25 million, property of the complainant, Mr Mr John Cham.
Raji told the court that the defendant committed the offence, with others at large on Nov. 30, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Lekki, Lagos.
He said the defendant told the complainant that he would sell the car to his friend, one Mr Emeka Emmanuel, who works in Chevron.
The prosecution counsel said that the defendant also issued a dud cheque dated Dec.14, 2018, bearing the name of one Emeka Emmanuel in favour of the complainant for the purchase of the Benz.
” The cheque was not honoured by the bank and all attempts made by the complainant to retrieve his car failed,”he said.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, (Revised)
After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
NAN reports that stealing provides three years imprisonment while conspiracy stipulates two years for offenders.
Chief Magistrate O.A. Layinka admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two Sureties in like sum.
Layinka ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.
She adjourned the case until May 21 for hearing.
(NAN)