MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, have uncovered how a 44-year old driver, Ekene Okoli, allegedly stole Toyota Highlander worth N17m and lied to the owner, Peter Ugochukwu Onucha, that he had an accident and the vehicle crashed beyond repair on the highway along Abuja road.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Okoli, has been arrested and charged for stealing, fraudulent conversion and false information.
The incident happened between April and May, 2025 at Olodi Apapa area of Lagos.
When the matter was reported to the Police at the Zone 2 Command, the operatives moved into action, eventually discovered that the suspect actually stole the vehicle, converted it and lied to the Police and owner that he had an accident which turned out to be false.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Ekene Okolie ‘M’, and others at large between the month of April and May 2024 in Olodi Apapa Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing, fraudulent conversion, giving false Information and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 325 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Ekene Okolie ‘M’, and others at large, on the same dats, time and place in the aforesald Magisterial District, did steal Toyota Highlander 2010 model with Reg/No LND683GL valued the sum of Seventeen Millon Naira (N17,000,000,001 property of one Peter Ugochukwu Onucha ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT III: “That you, Ekene Okolie ‘M’, on the 4 of October 2024 at about 1215pm at Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did give false information to the Police by saying that the Toyota Highlander 2010 model with Reg/No 883GL had an accident along Abuja road, a declaration/ affirmation at the particular time to your knowledge was false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 115 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Adegbie Tope, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs, F.M.Kayode-Alamu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
