Panel Beater In Trouble For Losing Police Vehicle

A 38-year old panel beater, Abiodun Onimisi, has been arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy and theft related offences before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, Lagos State, South-west Nigeria.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the Nigeria Police Force Headquarter Annex on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way had contacted the panel beater on 9 November, 2010, to carry out a maintenance work on an unmarked Hilux pick-up, valued at about N4.5 million.  He was paid N195, 000. But the panel beater claimed in his statement to the police that he lost the vehicle and money to armed robbers, who attacked him while he was driving the vehicle home because of a strike organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

For his failure to produce the vehicle and the money, he was arrested  and arraigned on Wednesday on a three-count charge.

Count two of the charge reads, “that you Abiodun Onimisi, and others still at large, on the 9 November, 2010, at Nigeria Police Force Headquarter Annex on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, in the Lagos Magisterial District did steal one Hilux pick-up jeep unregistered, valued at about N4.5 million, properties of the Nigeria Police Force, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 390 (9), of the Criminal Code Cap. C17 laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.”

Count three of the charge reads, “that you Abiodun Onimisi, and other still at large, on the 9 November, 2010, at Nigeria Police Force Headquarter Annex on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, in the Lagos Magisterial District did steal the sum of N195, 000, properties of the Nigeria Police Force, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9), of the Criminal Code Cap. C17 laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.”

Onimisi beater pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Folashade Kayode, admitted him to bail in sum of N500, 000, with two responsible sureties in the like sum.

She has adjourned the case till 2 April, 2011 for trial.

—Paul Sanusi & Abosede Agboola

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