By Njoku Chijioke
The police in Abuja have arrested a suspect over the fraudulent sale of a defective Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, recovering $7,000 from him in the process.
The suspect allegedly misled a buyer by advertising the luxury vehicle on Facebook, claiming its only issue was a faulty power steering system.
The vehicle, listed at ₦32 million (about $20,000), turned out to have major electrical and mechanical faults.
According to police reports, the complainant inspected the car on June 10 and paid a $7,000 deposit with the agreement that a refund would be made if she opted not to complete the purchase.
However, a subsequent inspection by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic revealed significant defects beyond what was disclosed.
When the buyer requested a refund, the suspect refused, stating it would only be possible if another buyer was found.
Following a petition, the Zone 7 Police Command, led by Akinlabi Ogundile, launched an investigation. The suspect was arrested and confessed to the crime.
The $7,000 was successfully recovered, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend his fleeing accomplice.
“The suspect, who was invited for questioning, confessed during investigation, and a sum of $7,000 was recovered,” the police said in a statement.
Authorities have advised the public to exercise caution when purchasing high-value items online and urged anyone with useful information about the fleeing accomplice to come forward.
