By Deborah Nnamdi
The Zone 7 Command of the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended a suspect in connection with the alleged fraudulent sale of a defective luxury vehicle and recovered $7,000 from the individual.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Zone’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Halima Mohammed.
According to the statement, the matter was reported on June 19 through a formal petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) overseeing Zone 7.
Mohammed revealed that the petition concerned a fraudulent transaction that took place at Ilado Car Stand in the Lokogoma area of Abuja, allegedly perpetrated by the suspect.
“The complainant stated that she came across an advertisement on Facebook on June 10 for a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon listed at N32 million, approximately $20,000,” Mohammed said.
She explained that the complainant subsequently contacted the seller—now identified as the suspect—and arranged to inspect the vehicle at the car stand.
“During the inspection, the seller claimed the vehicle only had a minor issue with its power steering system, which he promised to repair within a week,” she continued.
Relying on this assurance, the complainant paid a deposit of $7,000, under a mutual agreement that the money would be refunded if she opted not to complete the purchase.
However, upon a follow-up inspection with a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic, the vehicle was found to have multiple serious electrical and mechanical faults beyond the disclosed issue.
“When the complainant requested a refund, the suspect refused, stating that a refund would only be possible if the car was sold to another buyer,” Mohammed explained.
She further stated that the suspect failed to provide a definite timeline for the refund, prompting suspicions of fraudulent intent.
Following the petition, a team of detectives led by CSP Akinlabi Ogundile launched an investigation. The suspect was invited for questioning, during which he confessed to the crime. The police subsequently recovered the $7,000 from him.
Mohammed added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect’s accomplice, who remains at large.
