A Magistrate Court in the Ijebu Imusin Magisterial District of Ogun State on Monday, December 30, sentenced 27-year-old mechanic Abiodun Ajao to six years imprisonment for stealing and damaging a customer’s vehicle.
Ajao was apprehended by the Ijebu East Central Division of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Esure, Ijebu Imusin. According to a statement by the Corps’ Public Relations Officer, Dyke Ogbonnaya, Ajao faced three charges: stealing (contrary to Section 390), conversion (contrary to Section 434), and malicious damage (contrary to Section 451) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges and received a two-year sentence for each, to be served consecutively.
The case involved a Honda Accord (EOD) vehicle, which Ajao reportedly disassembled for sale. The Ogun State NSCDC Commandant, Remilekun Omolade Ekundayo, had earlier ordered a full investigation into the incident.
Ajao, who resides on Oloto Street, Lagos Island, and operates a workshop on Olowu Street, Ikeja, Lagos, allegedly drove the vehicle to Ijebu Imusin, Ogun State, where he began dismantling it for parts.
“The engine of the vehicle is bad, and I was trying to sell the parts since it’s unusable,” Ajao claimed during interrogation. He added that the vehicle had been entrusted to him for repairs and that he was test-driving it before returning it to the owner.
However, further investigations revealed that Ajao had transported the car to various locations, including Lagos and Epe, carrying passengers before he was caught disassembling the vehicle.
The court’s decision underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for criminal acts, particularly when entrusted with customers’ property.
