A clearing agent, Oluwole Afolabi, was on Wednesday docked before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a Mazda Saloon car he was asked to clear from the Apapa port.
Afolabi, 58, whose address was not provided, is facing two counts of fraud and stealing.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the accused committed the offences in July 2009 at Maryland, Lagos.
Emuerhi said the accused was contracted by one Adewale Adesanya, who is based in the United States of America, to clear and deliver the car to Oluwatoyin Adesanya.
“The accused took delivery of the car valued at N1.5 million but failed to deliver it to the complainant.
“He absconded with the car until he was caught last month (February 2018),” the prosecutor said.
Emuerhi said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
Section 314 stipulates 15 -year imprisonment for obtaining under false pretences, while Section 287 provides a three-year jail term for stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate O. Sule-Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She said the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Sule-Amzat adjourned the case until May 24 for mention.