N540m fraud: EFCC seizes 13 cars from ex-OSOPADEC boss

Debo Ajimuda

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has evacuated all 13 exotic vehicles seized from the former Head, Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Mr. Debo Ajimuda, and kept at the premises of the state Police Command, Alagbaka, Akure.

It will be recalled that multi-million naira vehicles were seized by the anti-graft agency in March, 2012 and put in the custody of the State Police Command sequel to the allegation of N540m fraud levelled against the former OSOPADEC boss.

Ajimuda, who was arrested immediately after the seizure of his property by the EFCC, was later arraigned on June 2012 at the Akure Federal High Court with four other accused persons on a 13-count charge but they were later released on bail.

A source at the police command told our correspondent on Monday that the EFCC officials came to the command last week, with a letter from the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja to remove all the vehicles from the command.

Another source explained that the evacuation of the vehicles might not be unconnected with the pending case of the alleged N540m fraud levelled against the former OSOPADEC boss at the High Court.

Some of the exotic cars evacuated include a Toyota Tundra jeep with a registration number ABUJA FY 195 ABC; a Benz 4matic 2011 model, with registration number LAGOS DK 777 FST; Toyota Corolla with registration number ABUJA HJ 805 ABC; a Toyota Solara, ABUJA EU 777 ABJ; and a Toyota Venza; Benz 500, registration number DK 777FST; and G.Wagon Benz.

In his reaction to the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, confirmed the released of the vehicles in their custody to the EFCC, saying it was released following the request of the anti-graft agency.

The PPRO explained, “We are not in charge of the matter, the vehicles were just kept in our custody for safety. The EFCC brought a letter that we should release the vehicles they kept in our custody to them, and we did.”

Ogodo however denied having information about the purpose of the evacuation of the vehicles. He said, “I don’t know why they evacuated the cars. It is the EFCC that can explain that. 

PUNCH