The auction of six used vehicles by Newrest ASL Catering Services has entered troubled waters as one of the staff who benefited from the sale allegedly swindled one of his clients.
NewsGazette learnt that the company which is located at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos had, in December 2020, auctioned two each of Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Hillux Pickup Van, water bowser and Toyota Hiace mini bus to its staff.
One of the staff, Mr. Joshua Onoja won three of the vehicles; Toyota Hillux Pickup van, water bowser and Toyota Hiace mini bus which were given at N750,000, N700,00 and N800, 000, respectively.
However, Onoja resold the vehicles to multiple clients.
A source who craved anonymity told NewsGazette that Onoja resold the water bowser for N1.8 million.
He also sold the Toyota Hiace mini bus to one Mr. Olalekan Akingbade for N1, 960,000.
However, he purportedly sold the same vehicle to another buyer for N4 million, a development, which did not gone down well with Akingbade.
It was gathered that when Akingbade demanded for the bus, Onoja promised to refund the money but the former declined and insisted on getting the vehicle.
Akingbade who claimed he sold his parcel of land to pay for the bus filed a petition against Onoja at the office of the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command and copied the managing director Newrest ASL through his solicitor, M.A Salawu & Co.
In the petition dated January 15, 2021, Akingbade accused Onoja of defrauding him of N1, 960,000 for a vehicle that was never handed over to him.
“As a result, on December 24, 2020, I bought a Toyota Hiace Hummer Bus among the ASL used vehicles from Mr. Onoja and he gave me his account number domiciled in Access Bank. I paid one million, nine hundred and sixty thousand naira. I asked him for the vehicular particulars, but he told me to come back the following day.
“However, upon my visit to retrieve my vehicle, he told me that the Nigerian Customs has seized the vehicle. All efforts I have made to recover either my vehicle or my money have not been successful as Mr. Joshua Onoja remains evasive,” Akingbade stated.
Another letter dated January 19, 2021 from Akingbade’s counsel and signed by E.M. Bankole, to the commissioner of police, Lagos Airport, accused Onoja of defrauding his client after the payment of the agreed sum of N1, 950, 000.
The solicitor said the fraudulent and lawless act of the suspect are criminal offences punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 314 and 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, Onoja, instead of releasing the bus to Akingbade, sued the complainant through his counsel, Integrity Partners and demanded for an apology and N1.5 million as ‘reparation.’
The firm insisted that the deal was inconclusive due to the sale and delivery of the same vehicle to a prior bidder.
According to the firm, a prior bidder had paid for the vehicle before Akingbade made advanced payment for the same vehicle, yet, Onoja went ahead to collect another sum of N1,960,000 from Akingbade.
The petition stated that Onoja had requested Akingbade to forward his account details to him for the refund of the money.
The solicitor accused Akingbade of threatening to deal with Onoja and accused him of submitting a trumped-up allegation to the airport command of the Nigeria Police.
The firm said Akingbade’s petition made his client to procure legal services and ancillary costs up to N1.5 million.
Therefore, the law firm charged Akingbade to repay the N1.5 million as reparation for the cost within 14 days.
The firm threatened to file proceeding in court against Akingbade should he fail to make payment within the stipulated period
