Driver in court over alleged theft of truck

A 48-year-old truck driver, Ishaya Inuwa, on Thursday appeared before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an Howo dump truck valued at N9 million.
Inuwa, who resides at Kinkinau area of Kaduna, is facing a five-count charge of stealing, false pretext, conspiracy and damage.
The prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Sept. 15, 2022 at Kabala Costain in Kaduna.
He alleged that the defendant stole the truck with registration number EZT 104 ZT, belonging to the complainant, one Alhaji Usman Adamu.
Leo told the court that the defendant, under false pretext, absconded with the truck given to him for commercial use and be remitting N750,000 monthly returns.
The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant later returned the vehicle with its engine valued at N451,000, damaged.
He said that the defendant was arrested when the complainant reported the matter at the Police station.
The offences, according to him, contravene Sections 271, 411, 339 and 314 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Emmanuel said the sureties should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Kaduna State Government as part of the bail conditions.
He said that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and should reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The magistrate further said that one of the sureties must present two recent passport photographs and adjourned the case until Feb. 20, for hearing.