A Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos sentenced a 33-year-old sales agent, Chima Osubor, to three years in prison on Tuesday for stealing a Volvo truck worth N2 million from his principal.
Magistrate Oluwatoyin Ojuromi sentenced Osubor to 18 months in prison on each of the three counts, but gave him the option of paying a N1.42 million fine to the complainant.
She decided that the sentences would be served concurrently.
The convict, who lives in Lagos’ Shomolu area, was arraigned on May 13, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of stealing, cheating, and criminal property damage.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Oriabure, told the court that the convict committed the crimes in May 2013 at No. 2b Salami Sauvignon str., in Lagos’ Palmgroove neighborhood.
According to him, the complainant, Mr Remmy Okoro, had given Osubor, as an agent, a Volvo truck with registration number YA 189 FKJ to sell and remit the proceeds.
He claimed the convict had caused damage to the truck by driving it recklessly after illegally converting it to his personal use.
Oriabure listed the damaged parts as follows: two windscreens worth N55,000, two side mirrors worth N10,000, two headlamps worth N50,000, one front valve worth N30,000, and one exhaust pot worth N30,000.
Other parts included four pointers worth N10,000, one gas tank worth N15,000, four tyres worth N220,000, and a battery cover worth N7,500, for a total value of N427,500.
He claimed that the offenses violated Sections 285 (9), 337 (1), and 321 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015. (Revised).