A 49-year-old truck driver, Azeez Ogunrinde, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly damaging his employer’s truck.
The defendant, whose address was not provided, was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on unlawful and malicious damage.
The prosecutor, Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that Ogunrinde allegedly committed the offences between April 22 and April 24 while in transit within Lagos.
She said the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by using the truck in his possession with registration no. SMK 914 XW, being a property of his employer, GPC Energy and Logistics Ltd., without authorisation.
Ikhayere said that the defendant unlawfully conveyed some unauthorised goods while in transit without the company’s knowledge.
“He unlawfully disconnected the tracking device of the truck in his possession to enable him to convey the said goods secretly. As a result, he maliciously damaged the truck’s axle due to the overweight,” the prosecutor said.
According to Ikhayere, the offences contravene Sections 168(d) and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
She urged the court to adjourn the case to enable her to study the case file and assemble witnesses.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
The Chief Magistrate, Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
