Family Petitions DIG FCID Over Abduction of Adedeji Ireyomi Along Auchi-Benin Way -Accuses Management of Transport Service Ltd of Abandonment

The family of Mr. Adedeji Ireyomi has petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Area 11 Abuja over the kidnap and abduction of Mr. Adedeji Ireyomi.

Attention was made to The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Nigeria Police, Abuja and the petition was signed by Olushola A. Abisoye Esq of Johnson Oye & Co of 4th Floor, Western House, 8/10 Broad Street, Lagos on behalf of the family of Mr. Ireyomi.

The petition was entitled; “A Case of Kidnap and Abduction of Mr. Adedeji Ireyomi of Transport Service Ltd. (TSL) Along Auchi-Benin Way By Unknown kidnappers” and it was dated November 30, 2021.

It was stated in the petition that Mr. Ireyomi was employed by Transport Service Ltd. (TSL), Lagos as a Truck Driver since 2014 and that he remained one of the best drivers so far.

According to them, Ireyomi travelled to Zamfara State on official engagement, adding that on his journey back to Sagamu enroute Auchi-Benin Way with the Truck Registration No. PK J22 TA (022-SCANIA) on Saturday 23rd October, 2021, he was kidnapped and abducted by unknown gunmen whereof the truck was abandoned by the roadside on the fateful day.

“As a result of the above, the kidnappers however, established contact with the family on same day whereby they equally reached out to our Client’s co-workers (drivers) precisely Mr. Saheed, who in turn informed one Mr. Korede with a promise by both drivers to get solution to this matter though they failed woefully.

“At this junction, our Client’s wife, precisely Mrs. Temitope Ireyomi on the 2nd day being Sunday 24th of October, 2021, met the Chief Security Officer of the company, precisely Mr. Gboyega, who informed her that the kidnappers were demanding for the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) only and as such asked our Client’s wife to negotiate with the kidnappers for the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only, and our Client’s wife did as she was instructed but the kidnappers refused to accept such amount,” they said.

It was added in the petition that Ireyomi’s wife continued to plead with the kidnappers to accept the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only, but that they still refused and changed their phone number, which they said the woman forwarded to the CSO, who they said promised to get back to her.

The lawyers disclosed that upon sensing danger, Ireyomi’s wife and her family noticed that the company (TSL) were not ready to do the kidnappers’ bidding and that they decided to go to Itori in Ogun State on the 3rd day being Monday 25th October, 2021, where they reportedly met one Mr. Ben, who they said claimed to be a trainee and who told their client’s family that they came to the wrong office.

Ben was said to have further directed the family of Ireyomi to their Head office at Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he said they ought to meet the right person to attend to their requests and needs.

“Apparently on the same day, while our Client’s family were on their way to the Head Office that our Client’s wife received a text message on her phone, which read thus; “This is kidnappers, I called u, u refuse to pick my call, don’t worry, I v kill your husband, go and do d buriyer.”

“So, it is important to let you know that this happened to be the last day that our Client’s wife would hear from her husband and the kidnappers again. It is unfortunate that our Client has to pass through the rigorous act being a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that is not all.

“Following the occurrences, our Client’s wife forwarded the above text message to the CSO, precisely Mr. Gboyega as well as the Head of Human Resources, precisely Mr. Daniel and they both promised her to resolve this issue, but eventually, the CSO denied being aware of the matter and warned our Client’s wife to stop telling people that he was aware of the matter,” the petition read.

The lawyers added that the CSO and the Head of Human Resources of TSL refused to pick Mrs. Ireyomi’s calls and subsequently barred her number from reaching them, which they said has caused her to suffer pains, psychological trauma, indignity, emotional stress, disgrace, humiliation and high blood pressure and that above all put her into darkness about her husband’s predicament.

It was stated in the petition that while all these were going on, TSL went to the police and retrieved their truck from them and then handed it over to another driver, who they said is now using it, while Mr. Ireyomi’s kidnap and abduction were now being put on hold by the company and the security agents.

“It is instructive to note that it is the same axis, Edo State (Auchi Road), where CSP Ibrahim Aliyu Ishaq, the DPO of Fugar Police Division was kidnapped and abducted, while on transit few days ago that our Client also fell victim.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby call on you to kindly ORDER the IRT to swing into action and unravel the mystery and circumstances surrounding our Client’s kidnap and abduction and the role of the company (TSL) on the whole scenario.

“It is our respectful submission therefore that the DIG is clothed with unfettered powers to grant this relief sought, considering the facts of this complain, we pray the DIG Sir to grant this request as doing so is in the interest of justice and fairness,” the lawyers said.