Togolese Sets Customer’s Car Ablaze

A Togolese, Monday Kaojo, 30, has been arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a one-count charge of setting his customer’s car ablaze.

The police at Langbasa division, Ajah, Eti-Osa, Lagos alleged that the accused was arrested following a complaint lodged by Edward George that the accused, a panel beater, set the car he gave him to fix ablaze.

He claimed that he gave the accused a Maxima 2000 model car to work on the body, but instead of him to return it to him, he started driving it around town and in the process the car caught fire and was burnt beyond repair.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that the car got burnt in his custody but that it was not intentional.

He claimed that he was testing the car after a mechanic had finished working on it when it caught fire. But when asked why the mechanic who worked on the car did not test the vehicle himself, he could not give a satisfactory answer.

After investigation, he was charged with setting a car ablaze, an offence which the prosecutor, Inspector Peter Nwanguwu, said is punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 17, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The one-count charge reads: “That you, Monday Kaojo, at about 14.30 hrs. at Pump and Sell along Ajah Road in Eti-Osa magisterial district did unlawfully set fire on a Maxima 2000 model saloon car with registration No. GN 804 EKY, valued at N1.8m property of Edward George.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. F.O Abegunde Davies granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum who must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

She adjourned the matter till 9 January, 2012 for mention.

The accused was remanded in Ikoyi Prison when he could not perfect his bail conditions before the court closed for the day.

—Paul Iyoghojie