For planning to sell a client’s car to another client, a Lagos-based mechanic is facing the lw.
The mechanic, Olaitan Oni, who allegedly defrauded a customer of N250,000 on the pretext of assisting him to buy a vehicle, on Monday, appeared before a Sabo Magistrates’ Court, Yaba in Lagos state.
Oni, 30, who resides in Bariga area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Police prosecutor, Insp Magaji Haruna, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in April, 2021, at Bariga, a suburb of Lagos.
According to him, Oni collected N250,000 from one of his customers, Mr Steven Adehunse on the pretext of assisting him to buy a fairly used 2002 Toyota Sienna model.
He said that the money collected by the defendant was supposedly a deposit for the car.
Haruna further told the court that it was later discovered that the vehicle the defendant was offering to sell was another client’s car that was parked in his workshop.
The offences, the prosecutor said, contravenes Sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (Revised)
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for the offence of stealing, while 314 carries 15 years jail term for obtaining by false pretences.
The Magistrate Mrs O.Y. Adefope, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Adefope directed that both sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payments to Lagos state government.
Adefope adjourned the case until Feb. 24 for mention.
