13th May, 2013
A driver, Edem Bassey Effiong, a native of Calabar, Cross River State, south-south Nigeria, has disappeared with his employer’s Toyota Corolla saloon car barely three days after he was employed.
The incident, according to a police source, occurred when the driver was sent by his boss identified as Mr. Bryant Oluwole to drop his wife at a Baptist Church located at Lateef Jakande Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
After the woman dropped off the car and went inside the church Effiong reportedly drove the car away and since then he has not been seen.
And when all efforts by the couple to trace the driver and the car proved futile, they reported the matter to the police who arrested the suspect’s garrantor, Ossang Emmanuel. Ossang introduced the fleeing driver to the couple for employment.
During interrogation at Ikoyi Police Station, Lagos, Ossang allegedly admitted introducing the fleeing driver to the couple for employment.
He led the police to the address the suspect submitted to his employer,, but it was discovered to be fake.
After investigation by Inspector Igbinovia Phillip, Ossang was charged before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing a Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number KRD 983 AY valued at N1,500,000, property of Mr. Bryant Oluwole.
The offences, the prosecutor, Inspector Clifford Ogu said, contravened sections 409 and 285(10) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate E. Kubeinje admitted him on bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the matter till 25 May,2013 for mention.
The defendant was moved to Ikoyi prison pending when he would fulfill the bail conditions.
—Paul Iyoghojie