An Abuja-based man, Edet Bassey, is currently experiencing the kind situation that makes delving into transportation dicey in Nigeria.
Many people want to buy buses or cars and give out to drivers for commercial use, to bring daily, weekly or monthly returns, but the result is usually negative as the drivers are often not conscientious.
In the case of Edet, he gave his Toyota Corolla out for commercial use. But apart from the fact that the two people he engaged refused to bring returns, they also disappear with the ride.
One of them, a 36-year-old driver, Umaru Madaki, who allegedly obtained the Toyota Corolla car valued at N500,000 by false pretenses, on Friday appeared before a Grade 1 Area Court in Karmo, Abuja.
The defendant, who resides at Gidan Sarki, Karmo, is facing a three-count charge of joint act, giving false information and shielding an offender from arrest.
The Prosecutor, Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that the matter was reported at Karmo Police Station by the complainant, Edet Bassey, on May 13.
Ukagha told the court that Bassey gave his Toyota Corolla car valued at N500,000 to the defendant and one Mohammed currently at large to use for commercial purpose.
She said that the complainant and the accused together with the alleged accomplice had an agreement that they would be remitting a percentage of the daily earnings to him.
The prosecutor said instead of fulfilling their part of the agreement, the defendant and his alleged accomplice absconded to an unknown destination with the car.
She said during police investigation, the defendant confessed to the offences, but effort to recover the vehicle had proved abortive.
According to Ukagha, the offences contravened Sections 79, 167 and 178 of the Penal Code Law.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Judge, Inuwa Maiwada, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N600,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until July 15, for hearing.
