Man jailed six months for vandalising BRT buses

Two men, Oladipo Omolewo and Michael Sunday, who allegedly broke into the BRT Bus premises at Ojota, Lagos to steal vehicle parts, were yesterday brought before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State.

The accused, Omolewo, 45, of Kogberegbe Street, and Sunday, 27, of Abayomi Street, in Ojota, Lagos, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sergeant. Ihiehie Lucky, told the court that the offences were committed on October 27.

He said the complainant, a BRT Bus Operations Manager, reported the incident at the Ogudu Police Station.

According to him, members of the community had in the last one month informed the authorities of the activities of some unscrupulous elements invading the premises to vandalise the buses. The accused, Omolewo, who claimed to be a scavenger, unlawfully entered the premises and vandalised some buses.

“He has been vandalising the buses, removing radiators, turbo chargers, injectors, propellers, block engines, fuel pumps to sell them. He was caught in the premises with radiators and block engines and was immediately, handed over to the police.

“Sunday was caught holding a big stick in the premises by security guards, who beat him before handing him over to the police,” he said.

The offences contravened Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The first accused pleaded guilty to the offence, while the second accused pleaded not guilty.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, sentenced Omolewo to six months imprisonment and admitted Sunday to a bail of N25,000 with two sureties. The court adjourned the case to November 23 for trial of the second accused.