Mechanic docked for allegedly stealing customer’s N450,000, car gear

By Olawale Akinremi

A mechanic, Opeyemi Adebiyi, 28, on Thursday, appeared before a Mapo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan over the alleged theft of N450,000 cash and car gear, belonging to a customer.

Adebiyi pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge bordering on false pretense and stealing brought against him.

The court’s Magistrate, Mr John Olorimoke, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

Olorimoke said that the two sureties must be blood relations and must each possess a valid identification card. He adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for hearing.

The Prosecution counsel, Insp Oluseye Akinola, told the court that Adebiyi allegedly committed the offences sometime in June, at Sanyo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Akinola further stated that the defendant fraudulently took N450,000 from one Afeez Ojekunle, the complainant, on the pretext that he would repair an IS250 Lexus Jeep gear for him.

According to the prosecutor, Adebiyi first presented N300,000 as his workmanship bill to repair the damaged gear and later added another N150,000 to buy a new gear entirely.

He said that the defendant later informed the complainant that the gear was irreparably damage and would require another N150,000 to buy a new one while the old one would be sold.

“After receiving the total sum of N450,000 cash, Adebiyi absconded with both the money and the faulty car gear before he was later arrested,” the prosecutor said.

According to Akinola, the offences contravened the provision of Sections 419 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. ii, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000. (NAN)