A Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos, has remanded two men, Lawrence Ogbechie, 60 and Arinze Umeh Chinonso, 43, in Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos for allegedly stealing three Lexus cars worth N37,500,000.
Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje remanded the two defendants sequel to their arraignment before the court on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy and felony to wit stealing.
According to the five count charge number A/09/2025 filed by men of the Police Legal Unit, Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, Lawrence Ogbechie and Arinze Umeh Chinonso were alleged to have on 27 January, 2024 at Ijesa Market area of Lagos conspired to commit felony, to wit stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The duo were also alleged to have at the same date, time and place in the Magisterial District, stolen three Lexus ES 350 Car 2008 model with a total value N37,500,000, property of Nnochiri Sunday and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 280 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015
When the matter came up for trial on Monday February 10, 2025, the prosecutor, Rita Momah (DSP), informed the trial magistrate that the prosecution has a five counts charge pending before the court and urged the court to order that the charges be read so that the defendants could take their plea.
The charges were then read and the defendants pleaded not guilty to same.
Following Ogbechie and Chinonso plea of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand them in custody pending trial.
However, counsel to the defendants informed the court that she has an application for the bail of the defendants which she consequently moved.
Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Kubeinje granted bail to the two defendants in the sum of N5million each with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 14 in the service of the Lagos State Government or the Federal Government, while the second surety must be a property owner within Lagos State with both house and office addresses of the sureties to be verified by the Registrar of the court.
The court also ordered that both sureties must produce three years Tax Clearance Certificates and deposit two passport photographs each to the court Registrar.
She then adjourned the matter till March 24, 2025.
The charge against the defendants reads:
- That you Lawrence Ogbechie ‘M’, Arinze Umeh Chinoso ‘m’, on 27th January, 2024 at about 1000hrs at Ijesa, Market area, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
- That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE ‘M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO °M’, at the same date time and place in Magisterial District, did steel 3 Lexus ES 350 Car 2008 model value Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand (N12 500,000) each, total value (N37,500,000) Thirty-Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira, property of Nnochir Sunday, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 280 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
- That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE ‘’M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO ‘M’, at same date, time and place in aforementioned magisterial district did steal 3 Lexus cars 2008 model valued at N12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each, total value Thirty-Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira entrusted to you for clearing by one NNOCHIRI SUNDAY thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 247(9b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
- That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE °M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO ‘M’, at same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal 3 Lexus car 2008 model valued N12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each, total value Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N37,500,000) at the point of offloading it from container that brought the cars from oversea and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287(5b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
- That you LAWRENCE OGBECHIE ‘M’, ARINZE UMEHI CHINONSO ‘M’, at the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal 3 Lexus cars 2008 model valued N12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each, total value Thirty-Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N37,500,000) property of one Sunday Nnochiri and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 (10) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
Pix above (L-R): Arinze Chinonso and Lawrence Ogbechie.