By Deborah Akpede
Ikeja – For allegedly damaging a vehicle belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a 43-year-old commercial driver, James Akande, on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Akande, a resident of Agbado in Ogun, is being tried for damage.
The accused committed the offence on Dec. 28, 2018 at Ikeja; the prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, told the court.
He said that the accused drove his Volkswagen wagon bus on the highway in a reckless manner.
He was alleged to have damaged a Toyota Highlander jeep, property of INEC’s office in Ondo State.
“The accused drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner without regards for other road users, lost control and rammed it into the INEC’s vehicle and caused severe damage to it.
“The accused was arrested and taken to the station.
“The value of the damage done to the vehicle is yet to be ascertained,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes two years’ jail term for damage.
Following his plea of not guilty; the magistrate, Mrs S.K. Matepo, released him on bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Matepo said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused.
She said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government (LASG).
She adjourned the case until Feb. 13.