Detective from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, have arrested a 35-year-old man for attempting to sell his company’s vehicle in Lagos.
The driver, identified as Ibrahim Babangida, bolted away from his duty post in Delta State but was arrested in the Epe area of Lagos while negotiating with his co-conspirator to sell the Toyota Hilux for N10 million.
Babangida, who hails from Bida in Niger State allegedly made away with the vehicle barely 48 hours after he was employed as a driver.
Police operatives, however, beamed their searchlight on the movement of the vehicle and eventually clamped down on the suspect at a mechanic workshop.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of FCIID, Idowu Owohunwa, who paraded the suspect at FCIID Headquarters, Lagos, said operatives arrested the suspect on New Year day.
Owohunwa said the arrest followed an intelligence-led undercover operation, which started from Delta State but ended in Lagos.
He said upon his arrest, Babangida confessed that he intended to dispose off the vehicle through his contact, identified as Emmanuel Olalekan, a mechanic at Epe, Lagos State, who is currently at large.
“He also indicated that Olalekan linked him with one Wilson Onobukoko and Daniel Paul for the purpose of looking for buyers. It was in the course of colluding with the duo to find buyers that undercover police detectives from FCID (Annex) Lagos swooped on him, arrested him, and recovered the stolen vehicle.
“Babangida was employed as a driver at SKECC Nigeria Limited, a Warri-based construction company on December 31, and one of his first tasks was to convey company items to the Sapele staff quarters.
“Upon delivering the goods, however, he stole the vehicle in his charge and headed to Epe, Lagos State, to link up with his syndicate members with intent to sell the vehicle for N10 million.
“Wilson Onobukoko and Daniel Paul have been arrested and they also confessed to the crime. The stolen vehicle with registration number: WWR 846 AH, along with its original documents, has also been recovered.
“Detectives are in contact with Delta State Police Command towards transferring the suspects and the stolen vehicle to them for conclusive investigation and prosecution,” he said.
Owohunwa assured that under his watch, FCID Alagbon, Lagos, will continue to deploy an intelligence-led policing model in the advancement of investigation, crime detection and prevention mandates of the department, in line with the charge of the Inspector General of Police.
