Bizman docked for allegedly receiving stolen vehicles

A 47-year-old businessman, Alhaji Saidu Isa (aka Maiturari) was Wednesday arraigned before a Lagos magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing N15.9 million.


The defendant, who is facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property, preferred against him, by the police, was docked before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe.

The defendant, who resides in Niger State and Niger Republic, was said to have committed the alleged crime in 2012.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, told the court that the defendant and others at large on August 24, 2012, at about 6pm, at Mr Biggs by Mobil Petrol Station along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, received stolen property.
He said Isa conspired with others at large to steal one Range Rover Sport valued at N11million, property of Lagos State Government.

Nnamonu said the defendant received the Range Rover from one Sampson Gbenga, knowing full well that it was a stolen vehicle.
The prosecutor said  in April 2013, at about 2pm at Akute area of Lagos, received one Honda Accord IV Tec, worth N2.7million from Wale and Sampson Gbenga respectively, knowing full well that they were stolen cars.

He also alleged that the defendant and others at large, sometime in January 2012, at about 10pm, at Mobil Petrol Station along Lagos -Ibadan expressway, received a stolen Hyundai Saloon car valued N2.2million, from one Femi and Gilbert.
The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant in page five of  his statement, stated that he has seven cases in different courts in Nigeria.

He said: “He has a house in Niger Republic and also in Niger State where he assembles the stolen vehicles. I am not prosecuting him not to be granted bail, but I don’t want to mislead the court.”

According to the prosecutor, the crime committed is punishable under section 409, 285 (10) and 326 of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

However, when the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to the five- count charge, preferred against him.
Magistrate Komolafe, granted him bail, in the sum of N1million with two responsible and gainfully employed sureties, who must be 40- years of age.

She said they must be resident in Lagos state, one of them must be a land lord in Lagos state and they are to deposit the sum of N100,000 each to the registrar’s account.

She further adjourned the case to September 20, 2013, for mention.

Meantime, the defendant was remanded to Kirikiri prison pending when he is able to perfect his bail conditions.