Bright Ekeochi, 25, was arrested after he angrily stormed
a police station to report that his friend, Akobu Aziza, 23, has bolted with
one of their stolen cars. He was later used as bait to catch Aziza, Adebayo
Peter and Raoul Dedavi.
The plan to steal the car from Ekeochi’s work place was
hatched by Aziza. The men agreed to share the money accrued from the deal. A
few days after they stole the car, Aziza disappeared into thin air and switched
off his phones.
Police said the men stolen a Toyota Vessa car at Ojodu
Bergar where it was on display. They were arrested on December 19
According to Ekeochi, said: “I used to be a manager in a
car shop. I left the job because the salary was too small. They pay me N17, 000
every month. Part of my job was to wash cars and attend to consumers.”
According to him, his life turned around after he left
his car washing job and met a friend called ‘Soldier.’
“I used to help
Soldier to sell cars after I left my car washing business,” said Ekeochi. “The
first car I sold for him was N4.3m. Soldier promised to give me a commission of
N100, 000, but he reneged on his promise. After that, I brought a buyer for a
Luxes RX 30 Jeep, 2005 model. I told him to pay me the last commission, but he
said he would pay all the commissions he owned me after the sale of the Jeep.”
Ekeochi said that after the sale of the Jeep, Soldier
said he would give him N5000. Ekeochi said his money was supposed to be more
than N5000.
The suspect said that while he was still wrestling with
Soldier over breach of their agreement, he narrated his ordeal to another of
his friend called, Aziza. It was Aziza who gave him the idea that landed them
in police net.
Recalling everything, Ekeochi said: “I narrated
everything to Aziza. He said we should snatch one of Soldier’s cars, so that he
would pay me the money he owes me. I brought many SIM cards purposely for the
job. I gave Aziza one SIM card. Our agreement was that after the operation, I
would give Aziza N50, 000. Using one of the SIM cards, I called Soldier and
pretended I was a buyer, calling from Abuja. I told him that I would be sending
my mechanic to check out a car I liked. Aziza went there, posing as a mechanic.
He said he wanted to check the car engine through a test drive. Aziza drove the
car away.”
Ekeochi said: “Aziza said he didn’t trust me. He said I
should keep an eye on the car and left. On December 19, Aziza drove the car
away without informing me. I started called his phone several times, but he
refused to pick. I reported the case to Area G Police Command. I told the
police that one of my cars was stolen by my friend. I was arrested in that
process.”
Aziza, an aspiring musician said: “Ekeochi told me that
his boss owes him some money. I advised him to steal one of the man’s cars. He
promised he would give me N50, 000 if we succeed. After stealing the car, I
carried the car without informing him. I sold it N1.5m. I gave
Ifeanyi who is at large N300, 000 and Peter N5000. I used the remaining money
to pay my house and make three songs.”
Peter, 38, a trader said he brought a Dedavi, a buyer for
the car. Dedavi accepted buying the car for N1.5m. He later sold it for N2m in
Benin Republic.
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