A shocking incident has unfolded in Lagos where a newly hired driver vanished with his employer's vehicle just four days after starting work, leaving the car owner devastated and police scrambling for answers.
The Disappearing Act
Lagos-based developer Olakanmi Ogundele finds himself in a nightmare situation after his recently employed driver, Olufemi Jogbodo, allegedly fled with his Gelly Saloon car bearing license plate AGL586GW. The disturbing event occurred mere days after the driver began his employment in October.
According to Ogundele's account to Punch newspapers on Sunday, November 16, the suspect initially presented himself as Adeleye when he was assigned to the developer by his company's manager on October 18. The urgent need for a replacement driver arose when Ogundele's regular driver fell ill, coinciding with his planned trip to Ijebu Ode in Ogun State.
Deceptive Journey and Escape
The newly hired driver accompanied Ogundele on the business trip to Ijebu Ode on the same day he was employed and returned with him to Lagos on October 20. The following day, Jogbodo performed his duties by driving his employer to the office in Ikoyi.
The carefully orchestrated disappearance occurred while Ogundele was in a meeting. The suspect cleverly told security personnel that he had been sent on an errand by his employer. With the meeting in progress, security couldn't verify the story with Ogundele, allowing the driver to drive away with the vehicle permanently.
"My driver was sick and I told my company to get me another driver because I was going to travel to Ijebu Ode," Ogundele explained. "So, they got a driver on October 18, and we went to Ijebu Ode together and came back on October 20. Then, he took me to my office in Ikoyi."
Police Investigation Reveals Shocking Details
Ogundele immediately reported the incident to the Ikoyi Police Division's tactical team, who launched an investigation into the suspect's whereabouts. The probe uncovered alarming information about the 44-year-old suspect, who resides on Dele Ogunbowale Street in the Ikate area of Lagos State.
Investigators discovered that Jogbodo operates eleven different bank accounts, suggesting possible involvement in similar fraudulent activities previously.
During the investigation, police tracked and arrested some of the suspect's relatives, including his wife's sister and one of his cousins. However, both had to be released after exceeding the permissible detention period without sufficient evidence to hold them longer.
"During our findings, we discovered that she had an aged mother who is about 75 years old and stays around Agbado Ijaiye, but we could not arrest her because of her age," Ogundele disclosed.
Manager's Failure and Fake Identity
The company manager who sourced the driver also faced consequences, being arrested and interrogated about the hiring process. The manager admitted that due to the urgent need for a driver for Ogundele's travel plans, proper vetting procedures were bypassed.
The manager failed to conduct due diligence by verifying the driver's identity and address, with all provided information turning out to be fabricated. Most notably, the suspect had employed a completely fake identity, giving the name Adeleye during hiring while his real name is Olufemi Jogbodo.
Ogundele revealed that plans are now underway to place a bounty on the suspect to facilitate his arrest and the recovery of the stolen vehicle. The case continues to develop as police pursue all available leads.
