A 40-year-old driver, Morris Udoh, has allegedly run away with a Toyota Camry valued at N4.5m

It was learnt that the car was given to Udoh on a hired purchase by one Patience Odamo.

It was gathered that Udoh, who was to pay a weekly instalment of N40,000 to Odamo, ran away after he collected the vehicle on March 16 at Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos.

Our correspondent learnt that all means to find Udoh proved abortive as his phone number was switched off and he was not found in his apartment on Simisola Street, Surulere, Lagos.

Udoh was reportedly traced by the police and could not give an account of what happened to the car after he was arrested.

Udoh was arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on one count of theft, which he pleaded not guilty to.

The Prosecutor, ASP Fidelis Dike, told the court that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and was punishable by three years’ imprisonment if found guilty.

The magistrate, Mr Omolaja Kazeem, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Kazeem said the two sureties must be gainfully employed, adding that one of them must be a relative of the accused, while the other must be a civil servant.

He adjourned the case till August 9, 2018.