Ibrahim Ayinde, the fake Lagos landlord wanted by the police for defrauding 142 house seekers, reportedly said he would bribe his way out.
Speaking with FIJ, one of the affected house seekers said Ayinde made up to N40million naira from the fraud and had told his family members not to bother paying back.
“From another policeman that is also on the case, we heard that Ayinde, who is still called the family representative, said that he heard the family was planning on securing a loan in order to pay us back. He said they should not bother, and that he would use part of the money he collected to ‘settle’ the authorities and the case would die,” she said.
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“The IPO in charge of the case told me that the real owners of the house would commence repayment last Friday. According to him, they were planning to take a loan from the bank so they could commence payment. I understand that the whole amount they owe all the house seekers is over N40million but the bank is only willing to give them N20million. I am not even sure the loan has been granted yet.”
On August 4, FIJ reported that Ayinde connived with a builder to collect money from 142 house seekers between May and July, promising each a space in a building that only had 12 vacant apartments. However, the house at 5 Ayedun street, Olowora, does not belong to Ayinde but his extended family.
The matter was later reported to the police and they initiated a manhunt for both the ‘landlord’ and Ahmed, the builder. When the heat became unbearable, Ahmed turned himself in at the Police Area Command, Ojuelegba. However, Ayinde went into hiding and has not been arrested since then.
One of the affected house seekers said she had been going through difficult times since the incident happened, hoping it would be resolved soon. According to her, a delegate was expected to meet with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, on Wednesday, to find a lasting solution.
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