Metro
Abuja driver abandons boss’ sick mum in hospital, flees with vehicle
When an Abuja businessman, Wilson Egun, employed a young man he met during a chance encounter last October as his personal driver, he never knew his act of kindness would become his undoing.
Egun met the suspect, Sunday Bidemi in the Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) when he needed help with locating his destination.
Bidemi came in handy as he offered to guide Egun to the place he was looking for. The young man exhibited a mastery of the terrain that left an impression on the businessman.
As the two men discussed during the ride to Egun’s destination, he mentioned that he was indeed searching for a good driver who knows the city very well; an opportunity Bidemi seized to market himself as an experienced driver in need of employment.
Impressed by Bidemi’s willingness to help and his confidence in his driving skills, Egun decided to offer him the job without a formal interview or background checks. Both men simply had a handshake and gentleman’s agreement to seal their relationship as employer and employee.
Bidemi performed his duties excellently in the first few weeks after he was employed as he drove his principal whenever he was needed to do so. He played the good boy card and waited for Egun to let his guards down before striking; an opportunity he got barely about a mount in the job.
Having won his boss’ trust, Bidemi was in November last year asked to take Mrs. Monica Egun, his employer’s mother, to a hospital in Cite C Estate, near Airport Junction, Gwarimpa, for her doctor’s appointment since the businessman was indisposed on that day.
But Bidemi was alleged to have dropped the woman at the hospital and immediately fled with the grey Toyota Corolla 2016 model.
When Mr. Egun realised what had happened, he immediately reported the incident to the Maitama Police Division and the Anti-Car Theft Unit in Abuja.
The betrayal left Egun in disbelief. “I trusted him. He seemed genuine, and I never imagined he would steal from me,” he lamented.
Weeks passed, but there was no sign of Bidemi or the stolen vehicle. As hope was beginning to fade, officers of the FCT Police Command recorded a breakthrough.
On December 15, nearly a month after he stole the vehicle, Bidemi was arrested at a car wash in Masaka, Nasarawa State, where he was washing the vehicle.
It turned out the suspect was cruising with the car he stole from his benevolent employer. He was allegedly using the vehicle to lure women in Abuja, whom he described as “cheap to attract.”
According to Bidemi, who investigators discovered defrauded and stole from two other women at different times, all that was needed to attract women in the FCT was for a man to dress nicely inside a good car with a working air conditioner.
Before his arrest, Bidemi had taken the stolen Toyota Corolla on a trip to Jos, Plateau State, from where he was returning to Abuja. Along the way, he picked up a young woman, Didel Clara John, who had no idea she was about to become his next victim.
During their journey together, Bidemi managed to gain her trust. He asked her to fuel the car with N60,000, promising to reimburse her. In addition, he borrowed another N20,000, claiming his bank app was faulty and he would refund her later.
Didel, feeling assured by his neat appearance in the navy blue tracksuit he had on, thought he was a responsible individual. She had no reason to doubt his story, so she handed over the money. The two then travelled together to Saminaka and Kachia in Kaduna State, spending the night in a hotel. But Bidemi vanished at dawn, leaving Didel stranded and fleeing with her money.
In the course of investigation, detectives found that Bidemi stole the tracksuits he wore the day he defrauded Didel from a Nigerian Navy (NN) personnel, Mrs. Yina Mngusuur Stella, who saw him stranded and offered him a ride.
Near Abacha Barracks Bridge, where she had taken him for a programme, Bidemi stole her tracksuit, ATM card, National Identification Number (NIN) card, and Navy slip tag.
As investigators dug deeper, they discovered Bidemi’s pattern of manipulation. He used his well-maintained appearance, often dressing in a clean, confident manner, to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims. He used stolen items to appear credible, gaining people’s trust before robbing them.
Confirming his arrest, the FCT Police Command said Bidemi would face charges for all his crimes.
Police Commissioner (CP) Olatunji Disu confirmed that the recovered vehicle had been returned to Egun.
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of hiring employees without proper vetting. Mr. Egun’s willingness to help someone he met by chance ultimately led to financial loss, emotional distress, and weeks of police involvement,” he noted.
Disu advised people to ensure they conduct background checks to verify the identity of anyone they intend to hire as domestic help or driver.
He said employers should request valid identification like a driver’s licence or national identity card or international passport, adding that they should request for references.
“Take time to assess their behaviour before giving them access to valuables. Install vehicle tracking devices because in cases of vehicle theft, tracking devices can help locate the stolen car quickly,” he said.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute 74 individuals apprehended for violating environmental regulations within the state.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects were arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation by the state’s Taskforce in the early hours of Tuesday around 1 a.m., targeting key locations across the Lekki axis of Lagos Island.
The enforcement sweep covered areas including the Falomo Bridge, Eko Hotel Roundabout, Oniru Beach, Lekki Phases 1 and 2, and the 1004 Estate. A total of 72 men and two women were taken into custody.
Wahab explained that the operation aimed to restore order and sanitation in the affected areas.
He added that the suspects will face prosecution in accordance with state laws and urged residents to remain law-abiding and committed to maintaining a clean, orderly environment for all.
The police in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday arraigned 30 persons before a Benin High Court for alleged murder and cultism.
The 30 persons are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, cultism, armed attack, and belonging to unlawful society.
The defendants were arraigned in three batches with the same seven-count charges.
The defendants arraigned in the first batch are Paul Elekun 25, Muetinyan Osagbovo 25, Opkala Bernice 22, Nnajiofor Francis 23, Imuetinyan Osanogara 21, Christian Augustine 22, Aniyea Choice 33, Saturday Umukoro 20.
The second batch are Gmogbo Ufoha 22, Emoh Emmanuel 29, Olavwola Gchinamen 32, Eriator Osaihon 44, Isaac Michael 32, Festus Arihian 37, Tedius Jude 25., Emmanuel Okhie 29, Daniel Oyakhilome 29, John Umoren 28.
The third batch are Ogoigbe Richard 33, Omokwua Cliton 32, Solomo Peisi (No specific age), Ezebuke Bright 29, Okoloagu Chicks 45, Ajuja Frank 25, Onemu Oghenekome Michael 19,
Jerry Lazarus 27, Patrick Arneka Joshua 22, Daniel James 28, Moses Peter 37, and Ewalefoh Prosper Osamudiahen 20.
The Prosecutor, Polycarp Odion told the court that the defendants and others, allegedly on May 1, did conspire to commit a felony.
Mr Odion alleged that on the same day within Benin City, without lawful authority, the defendants allegedly carried out armed attacks against a section of residents of the Benin metropolis.
The defendants were also alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit murder.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants and others at large, at different dates within Benin City did conspire and belong to an unlawful society.
He said the offences contravened Sections 412 (2), 64, and 247 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the Correctional Centre for an initial 14 days, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Counsels to the defendants prayed the court to grant them bail as they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
According to the counsels, the defendants were picked in indifferent areas in the metropolis, which includes Ugbowo axis, Sapele road axis and Garrick Memorial College axis.
They said some were picked while they were eating, some inside the bus on their way home from work, some were arrested while driving and their vehicles impounded.
They said that the judge has the right to grant the defendants bail, urging the judge to exercise the same to grant the defendants’ bail.
They added that they all have reasonable surety to stand for their bail and ensure their presence in court on an adjournment date.
Among the defence counsels for the defendants who spoke were a former Chief Magistrate, Peter Asemota (retd), Ede Asenoguan, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin City Branch, Paul Badaki, J.E. Igunma, A.D.Ajeka, O.J.Odi, E.B.KiKa, among others.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams Azeigbemhin, however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each with one surety in like sum.
Mr Azeigbemhin said both the defendants and surety must produce their NIN card, valid ID cards, and three passport photographs each.
He said that the surety must be a senior staff member of a recognised establishment.
He added that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and all information must be verified by the court registrar.
He then adjourned the case until May 19.
(NAN)
A fire outbreak on Monday afternoon engulfed a recycling facility operated by Jincheng Company at 11B Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos.
The fire, reported at about 12:15 p.m., drew a prompt response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters from the Sari-Iganmu Fire Station were the first on the scene, but the intensity of the blaze required reinforcements from the Ajegunle Fire Crew.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, stated that the fire began at the rear of the main building and was suspected to have been caused by negligence.
The affected section reportedly housed large quantities of cardboard materials used in the recycling process.
Although the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, the facility—which spans three acres—suffered significant losses.
“No casualties have been reported so far,” Adeseye confirmed, adding that the situation was under control by the time of reporting, with damping down operations still ongoing.”
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