By OKOSUN DENNIS
A 24–year old driver, Abass Ope, has been arrested in Lagos by a Decoy Team of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the State Police Command for stealing properties belonging to his boss.
Items stolen included his boss’ car, Television set and a pet dog, has confessed that Christmas needs of his siblings pushed him into the stealing.
The Ogun state born suspect was arrested last year on Boxing day5 while trying to sell off his ex-boss’s Toyota Avensis 2013 model with registration number: AGL 734 AR for N2m.
Other accomplices arrested with him were three of his friends: Balogun Oluwaseun (23); Sanni Azeez (23) and Stephen Ewiele (22).
It was learnt that Abass had, during Christmas stormed his boss Magodo home while the man and his family travelled to Delta State for Christmas with a conspirator to move a 100 inches LCD TV, another 42 inches LCD TV, a dog, a suitcase, 2 DSTV decoders and a Toyota Avensis, from the home.
It was further learnt that the suspect invaded the home of his ex – boss after learning that he had travelled to Delta State for the Christmas holiday, and the gatekeeper had also gone to church.
National Daily gathered that the suspect had unhindered access to the house because he knew where his ex-boss kept the keys to his rooms.
It was revealed that his ex – boss, on getting report of missing vehicle and properties, put a call through to the suspect on more than two occasions to intimate him of the development but he denied he had no knowledge of the incident’s.
The victims who had to cut short his village, was said to have reported the incident at Magodo Police Station.
Explaining what prompted him to steal the car, Abass said, “I took the car because I had no money to take care of myself and younger ones. They had no clothes, no shoes and this is Yuletide season. They looked up to me to take care of their expenses.
“It was about three months now that I left Mr. Ekinodo (his former boss).I had worked for him for four years before leaving him on August, 2016. I left because he had a little challenge and things were pretty tough for him. I left so that he could have himself sorted out”.
He continued, “He was a very nice boss to work with. He enrolled me into University but I couldn’t continue the education when I left him. While he had this challenge, he owed me eight months salary, this prompted me to take his property and the vehicle”.
He added, “the auto dealer wanted to pay N2 million for the car but I insisted he pays N4m because I know it is worth more than that.
“He offered me N1m instantly with the promise to pay the balance later but I ignored the offer hoping that the dealer would call me back for a re-negotiation.
“I went back to Ojuelegba few hours later in company of three of my friends, that was when RRS operatives arrested us”, he stated.
Expressing shock about the theft, Ekinodo Ifoghale said, “I am in shock. This is a guy I treated like a son. Apart from my wife, he was the closest person to me. This is a guy that did my shopping for me. Even, before I buy anything for myself, I bought for him first.
“How can I owe him 8–month salary when he never worked for me in those periods? Did he inform me that I owed him? He was never in my house in the periods he claimed.
I called him more than twice when I got the report of the break in.
“He told me he knew nothing about it. If he had told me he needed money, I would have given him because we were still very close despite the fact that he was no longer working for me”, he added.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmos, advised members of the public to always do a background check of their domestic servants so as not to expose themselves to criminals.
The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID)Yaba, for further investigation.