A 33-year-old man, Tunde Oshinaike, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court over alleged theft of a Kia Cerato saloon car valued at N10 million at Nusamin Hospital in Surulere.
The defendant appeared before the court on a one-count charge of stealing. The Commissioner of Police is the complainant in the matter marked Charge No. B/12026.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence occurred on the 22nd day of May, 2026, at about 12:00hrs at Nusamin Hospital, 34 Apena Street, Surulere, Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District.
The prosecutor told the court that Oshinaike and others now at large allegedly stole one Kia Cerato Saloon car with Registration Number 316 HR from the premises of the hospital.
The vehicle was said to be the property of one Modile. The total value of the car was put at Ten Million Naira, N10,000,000.00.
The offence of stealing is said to be contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
Section 287(7) provides for stiffer punishment where the stolen property is a motor vehicle. Legal experts say the section was introduced to deter rising cases of car theft across the state.
Upon conviction, the offence attracts several years imprisonment without option of fine, depending on the decision of the court.
When the matter was called, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove the allegations against the defendant.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum. The Magistrate ruled that the sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood, tax payment and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Following the bail ruling, the defendant was remanded in custody at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The Magistrate further adjourned the matter for mention to enable the prosecution to assemble its witnesses and for hearing to commence in due course.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. The Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects who are currently at large in connection with the case.
