Driver sent to pay bill flees with boss’ car

The police have arrested a driver, Michael Bameyi, for allegedly running away with his employer’s Toyota Camry valued at N2m.

The 27-year-old Bameyi worked for the owner of Master Funiture Limited in Agungi in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

He was said to have been sent to pay electricity bill on January 23, 2016, when he absconded with the car.

Our correspondent gathered that the firm reported the alleged theft to the police, who launched a manhunt for the driver and arrested him some days after.

The police said the suspect, who was on Tuesday brought before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on one count of stealing, had owned up to the crime.

According to a police prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen Thomas, the offence contravenes Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The charge read, “That you, Michael Bameyi (27), on January 23, 2016, at about 10.30am, at Bakky Plaza, Agungi, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with an intention to steal, fled with a Toyota Camry valued at N2m, property of Master Funiture Limited, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge before the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Ayeye.

While adjourning the case till February 17, 2016, for facts and sentence, Ayeye ordered that the accused should be remanded in the Kirikiri Prison.

In another development, one Obinna Eze, 28, also pleaded guilty to burgling a shop at Savannah Plaza in Ajah Park, Lagos, and stealing 83 pairs of shoes valued at N300,000.

Eze, who was a cart pusher, was said to have sold the shoes, belonging to one Temitope Ogunbanjo and other traders, who sold the goods in the plaza.

The accused, who resides in Ijora, Lagos, is facing two counts of burglary and theft before the court.

A prosecutor, Inspector Philip Osijiale, told the court that the accused committed the crime on December 20, 2015, at about 2am, adding that the charges contravened sections 285, 309(10) (2) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

A magistrate, Mrs. Memunat Folami, who presided over the case, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter till February 17 for facts and sentence.