Lagos Police Arrest Kingpin Behind ₦1 Billion Vehicle Fraud Syndicate

Lagos Police Arrest Kingpin Behind ₦1 Billion Vehicle Fraud Syndicate

CP Fatai Tijani

By Olufemi Odeyemi

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Ismaila Jaji, popularly known as Otunba, the alleged kingpin of a vehicle fraud syndicate linked to the fraudulent acquisition of 29 vehicles valued at over ₦1 billion across the state.

Jaji, who had been on the run for several months, was apprehended following sustained investigations and confessional statements by earlier arrested members of the syndicate, who identified him as the mastermind behind an operation police say ran for almost a year.

His arrest followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Fatai Tijani, ordering the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba, to intensify efforts to track down all members of the criminal network. The commissioner had earlier assured the public, during a media briefing where some of the recovered exotic vehicles were displayed, that the syndicate leader would be caught.

Police investigations identified other members of the syndicate as Adeyemo Muritala, Fatai Eleku, Fatai Balogun, Ismail Ajayi, Bashiru Babatunde, and a suspect identified simply as Segun. Investigators said the gang specialised in obtaining exotic vehicles from unsuspecting dealers through false representations, including dud and post-dated cheques, before converting the vehicles for personal use.

Intelligence-led policing, supported by the AUTOREG vehicle tracking platform, has so far led to the recovery of 16 of the 29 vehicles, with 12 already returned to their rightful owners. Vehicles valued at approximately ₦534 million remain outstanding, and police say efforts to recover them and arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate are ongoing.

The case is being investigated by the Financial Crimes Section of the SCID, Yaba, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dayo Akinbisehin, who said the investigation exposed a coordinated criminal syndicate rather than isolated incidents. Police have advised vehicle dealers to thoroughly verify the identities and credentials of prospective buyers, particularly in transactions involving post-dated cheques.