15th July, 2023
By Paul Iyoghojie
The police at the Maroko Division, Lekki of the Lagos State Police Command, Lagos have arrested a driver while allegedly fleeing with his employer’s Lexus 350 SUV.
The vehicle was recovered from him five days after he disappeared with the SUV.
According to police, the incident occurred just four months after the driver, Osinachi Nnaji, aged 30, secured the job.
Police alleged that the incident occurred on 24 February 2023 when the owner of the Lexus Mr. Solomon Oyeka sent Nnaji to go and park the SUV at his residence at Maiye Ogundana Street, Magodo Phase 11, Lagos after dropping him somewhere.
Police further alleged that instead of packing the SUV as directed, Nnaji droved the SUV straight to the Sangotedo Area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos to look for a buyer for the vehicle.
Police said that when the complainant waited for two days without seeing the driver and his phone number was not going, he reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Maroko Division.
The DPO swiftly directed his crack team led by Inspector Eze Iyang to fish out the driver anywhere he might be hiding and recover the SUV from him.
Iyang and his team swung into action and tracked the driver to the Sangotedo Area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, arrested him and recovered the SUV.
Nnaji was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge of conduct likely to cause breach of peace and stealing.
Police prosecuting counsel, Reuben Solomon told the court that the Defendant betrayed the trust the Complainant reposed in him as his driver and fled with his SUV to look for a buyer for it just four months after he secured the job.
He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under Section 287(7) and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Mr O. S. Abioye granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Abioye adjourned the case till 23 July 2023 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility till he perfected the bail condition.