The Police at the Adeniji Adele Division of the Lagos State Police Command, Lagos have arrested a resident of Lagos Island, Usman Sidime Ademola, 38, for allegedly obtaining a Toyota Tundra valued at N5 million from a Businessman, Alhaji Bashir Isiaka under false pretence.
Police alleged that Ademola later sold off the vehicle for N5m and allegedly converted the money to his use and escaped.
Police further alleged that trouble started for Ademola when he allegedly tricked the complainant that he has a ready buyer for the Toyota SUV and that because the complainant trusted him, he allowed him to take the vehicle to the alleged buyer.
Ademola, according to the Police, instead of returning the vehicle back to the complainant, allegedly sold the SUV for N5m and converted the money to his use and escaped.
When the complainant waited for days without seeing Ademola and his vehicle, he reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Adeniji Adele Division who directed his men led by Inspector Hope Ukpabi to fish out the suspect anywhere he could be found.
Ademola, a resident of 19, Grifitt Street, Lagos Island was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos on a two-count charge of stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Police prosecuting Counsel, Hafsat Ajibode informed the Court in the charge marked M/06/2022 that the defendant committed the offence in 2020 at 19, Grifitt Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.
Ajibode told the Court that the defendant deceived the complainant that he had a ready buyer for his SUV and that the complainant trusted him and allowed him to take the vehicle to the alleged buyer for inspection, but the that defendant sold the vehicle for N5m and converted the money to his use and escaped before he was arrested after about two years of Police manhunt.
Ajibode said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Mrs Gbajumo Ayoku granted him N1m bail with two sureties in like sum.
Ayoku adjourned the case till 9 March, 2022 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detain at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility till he perfected the bail conditions.
