A 25-year-old Uber driver, Babatunde, who allegedly absconded with his employer’s Toyota Corolla, valued at N2 million, on Monday appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
He was charged with theft.
The prosecution counsel, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that Babatunde who resides at Ikorodu, committed the offence on June 19, 2019 at Apapa, Lagos.
Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Olaluwoye said that the defendant entered into an agreement with the complainant, one Mr. Philip, to drive the car on the Uber platform and remit a percentage of the proceeds to him weekly.
She alleged that Babatunde absconded with the Toyota Corolla car with registration No. LSR 81 FL, worth N2 million belonging to the complainant.
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“My Lord, the defendant paid the complainant just for one week and disappeared with the car for six months.
“He was later arrested while attempting to drive the car to Oyo State without the permission of the complainant,” she said.
The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287 (7) prescribes a seven-year jail term for the offence of stealing from one’s employer.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oghere, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Oghere adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.
NAN
