The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 7 Headquarters, has apprehended a suspect linked to the alleged fraudulent sale of a defective luxury vehicle and has recovered $7,000 from him.
This development was confirmed in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by the zone’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Halima Mohammed.
According to Mohammed, the case was brought to the attention of the Zone 7 command on June 19 through a petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) overseeing the zone.
“The AIG was petitioned over a fraudulent sales transaction at Ilado Car Stand in Lokogoma area of Abuja, orchestrated by the suspect,” Mohammed said.
The complainant, she explained, had responded to a Facebook advertisement posted on June 10, which offered a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon for sale at N32 million, the equivalent of $20,000.
Mohammed stated that the complainant contacted the alleged seller, now in custody and proceeded to inspect the car at the mentioned dealership.
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“Upon inspection, she was told that the only fault with the car was its power steering system, which would be fixed within one week.
“Based on this assurance, the complainant paid a deposit of $7,000 with a mutual understanding that the money spent would be returned if she chose not to proceed with the purchase,” she said.
However, following a detailed inspection by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic, several hidden electrical and mechanical issues were uncovered, which contradicted the seller’s initial claim.
“When she requested for refund, the suspect insisted that no refund would be made unless the car was sold to another buyer,” Mohammed narrated.
The suspect reportedly refused to commit to any clear repayment timeline, prompting the complainant to suspect foul play.
Acting on the petition, police operatives from the zone, led by CSP Akinlabi Ogundile, swung into action.
The suspect, who was subsequently invited for interrogation, confessed to the offence during investigation, leading to the recovery of the $7,000.
Mohammed added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect’s accomplice, who is currently on the run.
