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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
