By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Former Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Adesegun Adekoya, has commended a Benue-based car dealer, George Akpan, for foiling attempt by his domestic staff, Amadi Basil, and one driver to sell his stolen new Toyota car.
According to the former Lawmaker, the security man in his Gwarimpa Estate private house had conspired with the sacked driver of his neighbour to steal the Toyota car valued at about N50 million and drove the car to Makurdi last Wednesday where they approached the car dealer, Gorge Akpan, to sell the car.
He said that after negotiation the car dealer agreed to pay the sum of N14 million for the car.
However, the car dealer did due diligence and went into the portal of Road Safety to verify the authenticity of the ownership of the vehicle without the car thieves aware of what he was doing.
Hon Adekoya declared that when the car dealer saw his name and phone number on the portal he sent him a text message and told him to call him back.
The text message read: “Good evening Honorable, please call me when you see this message!I have very important information to share with you.”
Hon Adekoya, who does not know the owner of the number replied “On what ?”
The car dealer responded “Toyota Camry 2019 moden bearing your name on the road safety portal, just to verify and be sure that the person in possession is right right owner at the moment Sorry bros me.”
Hon Adekoya said he asked for the number of the vehicle which was sent to him in addition to a video of the car.
The former Deputy Minority Whip said he confirmed that car belongs to him and arranged with the car dealer to set a trap for the car thieves.
Hon Adekoya consequently informed his brother who is a high ranking military officer and also linked him with the car dealer.
After the car dealer had arranged with the military officer to trap the hoodlums, the car dealer told the car thieves to come at 9am on Friday to collect the N14 million cash for the stolen car.
The domestic staff and his accomplice were very prompt on Friday to collect the cash and that was where nemesis caught up with them as they were arrested by military men who had laid siege on the Makurdi mechanic village where the car was packed.
The suspects were subsequently moved to Abuja where they are presently detained at a police state in Gwarimpa.
Hon Adekoya commended George Akpan for his the honesty, and noted that the issue of theft in the country will be greatly curtailed if there are no receivers of stolen properties.
