By Paul Ioghozzi
Two drivers, Amu Yusuf and Sunday Sampson, have been arrested and arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate's Court in Lagos for stealing a seven-passenger minibus worth ₦4.2 million owned by their employer, Harry Ozurumba.
Police at Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi alleged that on the day of the incident the defendants took the minibus, commonly known as “Koropay”, to Obalende bus stop to load passengers.
However, after the bus was loaded, the defendants reportedly disappeared.
According to the investigation, a friend of the defendants, identified as Sodiq (now absconding), allegedly assisted the passengers in taking the bus to their destination.
After dropping off the passengers, Sodik allegedly fled with the bus, which has not been recovered since.
When Ozurumba waited for several days without seeing his bus and received unsatisfactory explanations from the respondents, he reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer of Dolphin Estate Division.
The DPO directed Inspector Adiya Basil and her team to investigate, which led to the arrest of the accused.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy and theft under sections 411 and 287(7) of the Criminal Law, 2015 of Lagos State.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Hafsat Ajibode, informed the court that the crime occurred on August 11, 2024 in Obalende.
She alleged that the defendants conspired with Sodik to steal the bus, which was assigned to them for fare-purchase purposes, and fled before their ultimate arrest.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Mrs. Gbajumo Ayoku granted him bail of ₦450,000 each with two sureties of the same amount.
The case was adjourned, and the defendants were remanded to Ikoyi Correctional Facility until their bail conditions are met.
Source link
