The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Ismaila Jaji, also known as Otunba, who is accused of leading a vehicle fraud ring responsible for the bogus acquisition of 29 cars worth more than N1 billion in the Lagos area.
Jaji, who had been evading arrest, was identified and taken into custody after detectives and confessional statements from captured gang members named him as the alleged ringleader of a scheme that has been active for nearly a year.
Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba to step up inquiries and arrest other suspected members.
Earlier, during a press briefing where some recovered luxury cars were displayed, the commissioner had promised the public that the syndicate’s leader, Otunba Jaji, would be arrested — a promise fulfilled by this arrest.
According to police sources, the group specialised in obtaining high-end vehicles from unsuspecting dealers through false pretences and then converting and selling the cars for personal profit.
They targeted credible dealers by claiming the cars were needed for legitimate business or political uses, acquired them with dud or post-dated cheques, and then sold or transferred the vehicles to third parties while hiding the true beneficiaries behind intermediaries.
Investigators consolidated three initial probes into a larger inquiry that was later expanded to twelve separate matters involving conspiracy, obtaining goods by false pretence, fraudulent conversion, stealing and issuing dud cheques.
Although different complainants had filed separate reports, detectives found the cases were linked to the same organised network.
Identified suspects include Adeyemo Muritala, Fatai Eleku, Fatai Balogun, Ismail Ajayi, Bashiru Babatunde, one Otunba and another individual named simply as Segun. Intelligence-led policing and a vehicle-tracking platform have so far led to the recovery of 16 vehicles, 12 of which have been returned to their owners.
Vehicles worth about N534 million remain outstanding; efforts continue to recover them and to apprehend other fleeing gang members.
Police say they are committed to arresting all involved, recovering the remaining cars and ensuring prosecutions.
The investigation showed the activity was the work of a coordinated criminal syndicate rather than isolated incidents.
Officers advised vehicle dealers to verify buyers’ identities and credentials and to be wary of transactions that involve post-dated cheques or unfamiliar intermediaries.
The Financial Crimes Section of SCID is coordinating the probe under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Dayo Akinbisehin.
(Source: Guardian Newspapers)
