Posted by By Racheal Agbo on
A driver in Abuja who stole his master's car and fled to Lagos is now in police net. Lanre Olatunji, 26, was said to have stolen Engineer Sunday Onilaide's car, when he noticed that the latter had travelled to Kenya on an official duty.
A driver in Abuja who stole his master's car and fled to Lagos is now in police net. Lanre Olatunji, 26, was said to have stolen Engineer Sunday Onilaide's car, when he noticed that the latter had travelled to Kenya on an official duty.
But the suspect claimed he stole the car to compensate for the sum of N270,000 allegedly owed by his former employer. He said that the money was arrears of his salaries for two years.
According to a senior police officer, Lanre stole the car when he realised that the master was likely to stay long in the journey he had made.
He said: " The police suspected him when his brother, Ade who came to Festac police station to collect a certificate of a Change of Ownership could not give authentic account of the real owner of the vehicle. So the vehicle was seized and we got Lanre arrested; though Ade is at large."
Speaking with Lanre inside police cell, the suspect told Daily Sun that the duo had negotiated on the price the buyer would offer. But unfortunately for him, the police did not let him go when he went for the certificate.
Lanre said: "My master is owing me for over two years now. So when I heard he was to travel to Kenya, I asked him for my money, but he refused to pay me. So, when he travelled, I decided to carry one of his cars down to Lagos so that my people will follow me to Abuja and get my master to pay me."
He said his relatives refused to follow him, but instead advised him to sell the car, arguing that it would meet up to the amount his master was owing. "I didn't know how the police managed to find out the truth. All I know is that I gave my brother N1,000 for the certificate of change of ownership."
Lanre, who hails from Okuku Local Government Area of Osun State, pleaded for forgiveness, adding, "I was only four years when my father died. It was my mother that saw me through my primary and secondary education. I needed the money very badly and he did not want to pay, that was why I had to do what I did".
The vehicle marked AA 495 BWR has been taken to the Festac Police station while investigations continues.