Police in Ondo State yesterday paraded a 25-year-old driver, Mr Kehinde Ajayi, for attempting to sell the car of his employer. Ajayi allegedly stole the Honda Accord car with registration number MUS 328 BZ where it was parked in Akure, the state capital, and took it to Lagos where he intended to sell it for N1 million. He was arrested by a team of detectives led by Michael Adeniyi who chased the suspect to Lagos upon a tip off on June 2, 2014.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo, said the Divisional Police Officer of Okuta Elerinla directed the detectives led by Adeniyi of Okuta Elerinla Division to trail Ajayi to Lagos.
It was gathered that the suspect, who was employed as a driver by Dr and Mrs James Olaniyi Okunlola of the Department of Agriculture and Economics at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). Ogodo explained that the detectives apprehended Ajayi at Bode Thomas in Lagos where he intended to sell the car.
The PPRO said the suspect was brought back to Akure with the car and other valuables such as two different GSM phones, Dell laptop, MTN modem, which he had stolen, a knife and some personal documents belonging to his boss.
Ajayi, who spoke with journalists during the parade at the Divisional Police Station, Okuta Elerinla, confessed to the crime. The suspect, who hails from Aisegba-Ekiti in Ekiti State, said his father lived in Ijare, Ifedore local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to him, he did not have anyone in mind to sell the car to in Lagos but was sure he will get a buyer when he gets there. He said: “I wanted to sell the car for N1 million but I do not have a buyer as it was first time I did that. Nobody lured me into it. I am only praying that God and my boss will forgive me.”
Meanwhile, Ogodo appealed to the people to be wary of who they employ as drivers or salespersons. According to him, employers must ensure that whoever they want to employ is a person of an impeccable character and ensure that he or she has a reliable surety. He also urged criminals to repent otherwise they would be dealt with when apprehended. Ogodo said the suspect would soon be charged to court
