32-year-old man arrested after he absconded with school bus he was hired to drive
Legit.ng gathered that a 32-year-old man was recently arrested for running away with the school bus he had been hired to drive.
The man identified as Eric Effiong, was hired by the administration of the Peak Lane International School, Oremiji, Akute, in Lagos, to drive their school bus.
The father of two had gone ahead to run away with the bus which was reportedly worth about N3.6million, despite working with the school for about six years.
Effiong was eventually arrested by the State Intelligence Bureau, SIB, Lagos State Police Command, after a petition was sent to the Lagos state police commissioner CP Fatai Owoseni.
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A source at the police station said:
“On May 27, the proprietress of Peak Lane International School, Oremiji Close, Oremiji Estate, Alagbole Akute, reported that on March 7, a driver with the school, Eric Effiong, absconded with one of the buses with number plates SMK 123 EM.”
Effiong raised suspicions after he switched off his phone and even relocated from his last known address in Lagos. He was eventually traced to Calabar, Cross River state.
After he was caught, it was discovered that he had changed the license plate of the bus and had even branded it with the colours of the Cross Lines Transportation Company, and was even using it on the Calabar-Uyo route.
Confessing to his crime, Effiong said:
“I was arrested for stealing a school bus. I was going to drop a passenger when they came down from a taxi and told me I was under arrest. I really feel bad that this thing happened to me. I just pray my boss would forgive me.
While on official duty earlier this year, I hit a child of about one year and broke his leg. I spent over N200,000 to treat the baby.
When I ran out of cash I began to sell my items to raise money. In the cause of that, my rent expired and my salary was N54,000. Because the school doesn’t give loan, I became frustrated. I did not know what to do and decided to abscond with the bus.
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When I got home with the bus, my parents asked how I came about it. I did not tell them anything. The bus was already white. I only branded it with Cross Lines Transportation Company because of the police on the road. It is safer operating under a brand name because it shields one from unnecessary arrests and harassments by security agents.
I did that without the knowledge of the company. Since I was not operating in their park, it was difficult for them to suspect me. Apart from that, I only used it for one week because the front tyres were not good.
It is not true that I switched off my phone. Only one of my colleagues called me the first day this thing happened. He asked me where I was. We did not discuss anything.”
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Meanwhile, see a disgruntled Nigerian man who says he'd be forced to steal if the economic situation gets worse:
Source: Legit.ng
