National Daily

N20.8m stolen cars: Lagos court denies suspect bail

By PRINCE NWAKALAMBA

A court in Lagos last week denied a 29-year-old man bail on a three count criminal charge of receiving stolen vehicles valued at more than N20million from car snatchers, brought before it by the state police commissioner.

Azubuike Okeke was said to have conspired with others at large to commit felony to wit armed robbery. The incident, which occurred on March 24, this year at Medical road Lagos is a criminal offence punishable under Section 1(2) (a), 4(b), 5(b) of the robbery and firearms (special provision) Act Cap 396, Vol. XXII Law of the federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended.

The accused was alleged to have on 25th and 27 of March, at Mr. Biggs outlet, Kilo, in Surulere Lagos received a Honda accord 2.0 model with a registration No. JE.980 AAA valued at Four million, seven hundred and ninety five thousand naira (N4, 795, 000. 00), Toyota Camry car with a registration No. LB 391 AAA valued Five Million Naira (N5, 000,000. 00), an unregistered Hyundai Electra car valued at Two Million Nine Hundred and Fourty Thousand Naira (N2, 940, 000.00), unregistered Toyota Camry car Valued Two Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (4, 800,000.00) and an unregistered Honda Civic car, valued at Three Million, Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (N3, 310, 000.00) from Gabrel Agbo and Emmanuel Aliful who undisclosed source said have been sent to their early grave.

Following the refusal of the court to take plea from the defense counsel, the prosecutor, ASP. S. Falade argued that since the accused person was charged under decree, “it is the High court that has the right to attain to the case, following an advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action”.

Presiding over the case, the Magistrate, Mrs. Y. Pinhero said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter before it.
Monday 30th of June was selected for the hearing of Police advice.

In a related development, a middle age man, Enyinnaya Nnadozie Nwakeafor has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a Lagos High Court on a three count charge of fraud.

Nnadozie on 26th July, 2006 was said to have attempted to obtain the sum of 3,000 Euros from one Mr. Ian Frost by false representation through an e-mail dated 26th July 2006 claiming to be “Margaret Sawers” and that the money was the cost of Government Stamp Duty required by the Government of Netherlands for every International Transfer of funds above USD500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

He was also found guilty of an attempt to obtain the sum of USD5, 000 (Five Thousand United States Dollars) from one Dr. Jorge Tamariz V. claiming to be Anna Von Fronkson and that the money was the cost of Legalization of Dr. Tamariz fund transfer.
The prosecution told, the court that the convict perpetrated his crime within a space of time and asked the court to pass the judgment based on his own discretion.

While the defense counsel, Mr. Gerald Abonyi pleaded with the court to tender justice with mercy saying that, “the accused delved into such crime because he wanted to go back to school, and nobody could help see him through”.
Ruling the presiding Judge, Justice N. Olokoba, after few minutes of silence committed the accused to Six years imprisonment. Two years for each count. The sentence is to run concurrently.