Posted by By Akeeb Alarape, Ibadan on
While they should be at home savouring life in retirement, two elderly men in Ibadan are now singing in police net over the operation of illegal licensing office.
While they should be at home savouring life in retirement, two elderly men in Ibadan are now singing in police net over the operation of illegal licensing office.
Isaiah Adetunji and Richard Kunle were both arrested by police detectives at Challenge area of Ibadan as members of a syndicate operating illegal motor licensing office in the city.
Parading the elderly men at the Eleyele Headquarters of the Police Command, Commissioner of Police, Mr Moses Omo Anegbode, said that he has no doubt that the recent boom in car theft within Ibadan metropolis was made possible by the activities of the two men.
The police boss stated that his command got a tip-off at Briscoe Area, Challenge, Ibadan and a team of detectives was detailed to go after the syndicate.
Their discovery was baffling. Found at the licensing office were, 15 black booklets of hackney license; three booklets of drivers' license, three copies of vehicle license; one ECMR card and 1999 blanks proof as well as 12 Custom revenue receipts and ownership.
Other items include; one Hermes typewriter machine, one vehicle number plate XT 521 SMK, 26 Custom inspection certificates, two stamp pads and assorted stamps of licensing authority, pieces of certificate of third party insurance and insurance company card covers and finally, seven blank police letterhead papers and six CMR blank space.
"You can see that any stolen vehicle is as good as being forgotten because immediately the car thief gets to these people, they have all the papers to give him to claim the ownership of the such stolen vehicle.
"Not only that, all the revenue that should genuinely go to the state government, go to these men," Anegbode stated.
Reacting to the allegations levelled against them, Isaiah Adetunji said he has nothing to do with the incriminating documents nor was he an accomplice of Richard Kunle.
According to him, he was arrested at Challenge area by policemen on his way from V.I.O's office where he went to collect vehicle license. But when asked about his means of livelihood and what he intended doing with the vehicle license, he had no explanation to offer.
However, his partner, Kunle, confessed to the allegation saying; "I am the owner of the documents, somebody used to bring them for me."