Issaka Maija, a trader, appeared before a Circuit Tribunal, last week, for allegedly stealing a Nissan Pick-Up vehicle belonging to ex-Youth and Sports, Minister Mallam Yusif Isa.

Maija pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted ?50 million bail with a surety to be justified by the tribunal chaired by Mr Mohmmed Nabon.

He will reappear on July 17.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Elizabeth Alormatu told the court that the complainant is a farmer and a brother to Mallam Isa.

The white Nissan pick-up owned by the ex-minister, with registration number GR 5456 F was always parked at Nima, but it was later detected that the vehicle had been stolen by an unknown person.

The ex-minister’s brother lodged a complaint at the Nima Police, station.

DSP Alormatu said following a tip off, the vehicle was traced to Nkawkaw where it had been left in the care of a certain Mohammed Jimah.

When Jimah was arrested, he disclosed that the vehicle was given to him by Maija when it developed mechanical fault while he (Maija) was on a journey to the Northern region.

The prosecution said on November 17, last year, the police received a report that a Nissan pick-up with registration number GR 7090 D suspected to be that of the ex-minister had been abandoned at Town Council Line in Accra.

When the vehicle was inspected, the police found out that the white vehicle had been sprayed in an ash and its number plate had been replaced.

When Maija was interrogated, he mentioned a certain Bob as the one who brought the vehicle to him to be sold, but failed to disclose the whereabouts of Bob.