A 31-year-old radio presenter, Muyide
Samuel, has lamented the loss of his Toyota Camry 2003 model to a car
dealer, Odofin Olatunji, who claimed to be an in-law to a Lagos
Divisional Police Officer.
The Ibadan, Oyo State-based presenter
said the car, which he bought from Olatunji, developed mechanical faults
a few days after he paid for it.
said the car, which he bought from Olatunji, developed mechanical faults
a few days after he paid for it.
He explained that the car dealer asked him to return the Camry to Igando, Lagos State, for repair.
The victim said since he returned the
car on September 8, he had been receiving threats from Olatunji, who
claimed to be connected to a powerful DPO in the state.
car on September 8, he had been receiving threats from Olatunji, who
claimed to be connected to a powerful DPO in the state.
Samuel, who fought back tears while speaking with PUNCH Metro, said despite reporting the case at the Okota, Adeniji Adele and Igando police divisions, the suspect had been intractable.
He said, “I saw the advert post for the Toyota Camry on a social marketing website, Olx,
and I got in touch with the car dealer. We negotiated and agreed for
N760,000. I travelled down to Igando and paid for the car. I had to
spend additional N170,000 to change the shock absorbers, tyres, and
other things.
and I got in touch with the car dealer. We negotiated and agreed for
N760,000. I travelled down to Igando and paid for the car. I had to
spend additional N170,000 to change the shock absorbers, tyres, and
other things.
“Within a few days, I observed that it
had some mechanical faults. I contacted the man and he said I should
return it for repairs. He said if the problem persisted, he would give
me a new car, for which I may have to add N70,000. I bought the car on
September 4 and he took it back on September 8.”
had some mechanical faults. I contacted the man and he said I should
return it for repairs. He said if the problem persisted, he would give
me a new car, for which I may have to add N70,000. I bought the car on
September 4 and he took it back on September 8.”
The victim said since he returned to
Ibadan, he had only been having telephone conversations with the dealer,
who kept promising to return the car.
Ibadan, he had only been having telephone conversations with the dealer,
who kept promising to return the car.
Samuel said he later discovered that the
suspect had resold the car to a co-dealer, adding that when he
confronted Olatunji, the dealer ignored him.
suspect had resold the car to a co-dealer, adding that when he
confronted Olatunji, the dealer ignored him.
“He was telling me the DPO in the area
was his in-law and if I reported him to the police, he would not spend
more than 10 minutes at the station. He said at best, he would be asked
to refund my money and he would be paying me N5,000 till he completed
it.
was his in-law and if I reported him to the police, he would not spend
more than 10 minutes at the station. He said at best, he would be asked
to refund my money and he would be paying me N5,000 till he completed
it.
“I came down to Lagos to report at the
Okota Police Station. When he was invited, he didn’t honour the
invitation. The policemen went to his two houses without finding him.
Later, somebody told me that the man had a case at the Adeniji Adele
Police Station. But by the time I got there, he had been released. I was
asked to pay N40,000 for the police to open a file on him. After I did
that, they demanded additional N50,000 for mobilisation to arrest him. I
didn’t go back there.
Okota Police Station. When he was invited, he didn’t honour the
invitation. The policemen went to his two houses without finding him.
Later, somebody told me that the man had a case at the Adeniji Adele
Police Station. But by the time I got there, he had been released. I was
asked to pay N40,000 for the police to open a file on him. After I did
that, they demanded additional N50,000 for mobilisation to arrest him. I
didn’t go back there.
The police invitation letter
“I went to Igando and someone introduced
me to a policeman called officer Yusuf. When the officer called him, he
refused to answer until the DPO called him. After taking his statement,
the DPO said the offence was bailable. He was about to release him when
I protested. I told the DPO that the man had already said he would not
spend up to 10 minutes at the station because he was his in-law,” Samuel
added.
me to a policeman called officer Yusuf. When the officer called him, he
refused to answer until the DPO called him. After taking his statement,
the DPO said the offence was bailable. He was about to release him when
I protested. I told the DPO that the man had already said he would not
spend up to 10 minutes at the station because he was his in-law,” Samuel
added.
The DPO was said to have ordered the
Investigating Police Officer to follow Samuel and the suspect to the
co-dealer’s place to reclaim the car the following day.
Investigating Police Officer to follow Samuel and the suspect to the
co-dealer’s place to reclaim the car the following day.
PUNCH Metro learnt that when they got to the co-dealer’s office, he had travelled.
When the group returned to the station,
Samuel said the suspect promised to get him a Toyota Camry 2001 model as
replacement if he could add N100,000, an offer he said he rejected
because he didn’t have the money.
Samuel said the suspect promised to get him a Toyota Camry 2001 model as
replacement if he could add N100,000, an offer he said he rejected
because he didn’t have the money.
He said Olatunji later agreed to get him another car before Sunday.
“I have been on this issue for about
three months now. I am tired of life. This is all my investment in 2017.
He knew I had put the car in good shape and that was why he took it
from me to resell. I am begging Nigerians, the police and the government
to help me retrieve my car,” he added.
three months now. I am tired of life. This is all my investment in 2017.
He knew I had put the car in good shape and that was why he took it
from me to resell. I am begging Nigerians, the police and the government
to help me retrieve my car,” he added.
Olatunji told PUNCH Metro that he was making efforts to get the victim another car.
“By the grace of God, before the end of
this week, you will receive good news. Some people are already mediating
in the case. We found another Toyota Camry, which we intend to use to
replace it; we are about buying it from someone. We have been on this
matter since Monday and I have also not rested. There is no lie in what
he told you. We are the ones that need to make amends,” he added.
this week, you will receive good news. Some people are already mediating
in the case. We found another Toyota Camry, which we intend to use to
replace it; we are about buying it from someone. We have been on this
matter since Monday and I have also not rested. There is no lie in what
he told you. We are the ones that need to make amends,” he added.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the police were investigating the matter.
He said, “The complainant came to report
that he bought a car from the dealer and after a couple of months he
had some problems with it. He then returned the vehicle without saying
anything, maybe due to some disagreements.
that he bought a car from the dealer and after a couple of months he
had some problems with it. He then returned the vehicle without saying
anything, maybe due to some disagreements.
“After some months, the car dealer
resold the car and used the money for other things. The man then started
demanding his car and reported to the police. We arrested the suspect.
It was agreed that within a certain time he would get back the vehicle
for him or replace it. They are supposed to meet on Sunday. Since it’s a
bailable offence, the suspect has been put on bail and advised to act
according to his undertaking. Hopefully, he will redeem his pledge.”
resold the car and used the money for other things. The man then started
demanding his car and reported to the police. We arrested the suspect.
It was agreed that within a certain time he would get back the vehicle
for him or replace it. They are supposed to meet on Sunday. Since it’s a
bailable offence, the suspect has been put on bail and advised to act
according to his undertaking. Hopefully, he will redeem his pledge.”