The Lagos State Police Command has finally arrested Ismaila Jaji, a.k.a. Otunba, the alleged kingpin of a vehicle fraud syndicate linked to the fraudulent acquisition of 29 vehicles valued at over N1 billion around Lagos.
It was gathered that Jaji, who has been on the run, was eventually apprehended after investigations and confessional statements from arrested members of the syndicate, identified him as the alleged mastermind of the fraudulent scheme spanning almost a year now.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, to intensify investigations and arrest other members of the syndicate. The State Commissioner of Police earlier during a press briefing where some of the recovered exotic cars were openly displayed, had assured members of the public that the arrow head of the syndicate, Otunba Jaji would be arrested, thus making good his promise.
According to a police source, the syndicate specialises in fraudulently obtaining exotic vehicles from unsuspecting car dealers in Lagos through false representations and the subsequent conversion and illicit disposal of the vehicles for personal gain.
“The suspects targeted reputable vehicle dealers by claiming the vehicles were required for legitimate business transactions or political purposes.
“They obtained the vehicles using dud or post-dated cheques before selling and transferring them to third parties and concealed the identities of the principal beneficiaries through intermediaries.
The breakthrough followed the harmonisation of initial three separate investigations later extended to twelve involving conspiracy, obtaining goods by false pretence, fraudulent conversion, stealing and the issuance of dud cheques.
“Although the cases were reported separately by different complainants, detectives established that they were perpetrated by the same organised criminal network.
“Investigations identified members of the syndicate as Adeyemo Muritala, Fatai Eleku, Fatai Balogun, Ismail Ajayi, Bashiru Babatunde, one Otunba and another suspect identified simply as Segun, ” he said.
The source said that Intelligence-led policing and the AUTOREG vehicle tracking platform had so far led to the recovery of 16 vehicles, 12 of which had been returned to their rightful owners.
According to the police, vehicles valued at about N534 million are still outstanding, while efforts are ongoing to recover them and arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.
“We remain committed to apprehending all those involved, recover the outstanding vehicles and ensuring they are prosecuted,” he said.
He said that the investigation exposed a coordinated criminal syndicate rather than isolated incidents.
The police source advised vehicle dealers to verify the identities and credentials of prospective buyers and to exercise caution when transactions involve post-dated cheques or unfamiliar intermediaries.
The investigation is being harmonised by the Financial Crimes Section of the SCID, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.
