A Lagos-based real estate developer, Olakanmi Ogundele, has raised the alarm after his newly employed driver allegedly disappeared with his Gelly saloon car (registration: AGL 586 GW) just four days into the job.

The driver, Olufemi Jogbodo, who initially introduced himself as Adeleye, was assigned to Ogundele on October 18 following the sudden illness of the company’s former driver. He accompanied Ogundele on a business trip to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, the same day, and returned to Lagos two days later.

According to Ogundele, the suspect reported for duty the following day and drove him to his Ikoyi office, where the incident occurred during a meeting.

“I was in a meeting when he told the security personnel that I had sent him on an errand. Because the meeting was ongoing, the security officer couldn’t confirm. That was how he drove off with the car and never returned,” Ogundele recounted.

The matter was promptly reported to the Ikoyi Police Division, which launched efforts to locate the suspect. However, progress has reportedly been slow.

Documents obtained by our correspondent reveal that Jogbodo is 44 years old and claimed to reside on Dele Ogunbowale Street, Ikate, Lagos. Further checks showed he operates 11 different bank accounts, raising additional concerns about his activities.

Ogundele added that some of the driver’s relatives were traced and briefly detained during investigations:

“We arrested his wife’s sister and one of his cousins, but they had to be released because they exceeded the permitted detention period. We also traced his 75-year-old mother in Agbado Ijaiye but could not arrest her due to her age,” he said.

The developer also confirmed that the manager who recommended Jogbodo was arrested and questioned for failing to properly verify his identity.

“The manager admitted he did not carry out proper checks because I was in a hurry to travel. The name and address the driver provided were fake. He introduced himself as Adeleye, but his real name is Olufemi,” Ogundele explained.

Plans are reportedly underway to announce a bounty to facilitate the suspect’s arrest and recover the stolen vehicle.