The family of a commercial vehicle driver has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by a business woman to eliminate their relation over a N2million debt claim.
Our correspondent gathered that the business woman, simply identified as Iya Alex, had allegedly been orchestrating plans to eliminate the commercial driver, Kayode Akinleye, who is currently in police custody.
The family claimed that Iya Alex, who got the police to arrest Akinleye over the N2m debt, was allegedly determined to make good her plans.
But sources revealed that beyond the N2million debt Iya Alex accused Akinleye of owing her, her other grouse with the commercial driver was his alleged refusal to be part of a drug distribution ring he was introduced to.
Akinleye was arrested alongside his colleague, Kehinde Obafemi, by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad attached to Iju Otta Division, Atan, Owode, Idi-Iroko area of Ogun State.
Sources alleged that the business mogul “is working in connection with the SARS operatives to eliminate Akinleye.”
According to a source, the two men, Akinleye and Obafemi, “are victims of a well-orchestrated frame-up by an officer, simply identified as Wole, who led the arrest.”
The source also alleged that some members of the community had a hand in the arrest of Akinleye, which was attributed to his refusal to join the cartel.
It was further gathered that Iya Alex colluded with Wole and his team to get the two men killed in a bid to prevent members of the public from knowing about their alleged illicit drug business.
Our correspondent, who visited the area, learnt that the community was notorious for the smuggling of vehicles from the neighbouring Benin Republic.
The area is also noted for illegal drug peddling and other related criminal activities.
Speaking to our correspondent, Akinleye’s kinsman, Mr. Michael James, said, “The family has been left in a devastating mood since the arrest of our brother (Kayode Akinleye). And to make the matter worse, the police have not allowed us to see him since his arrest last week.
“We have tried to contact the woman (Iya Alex) to negotiate how we will pay back the money, but she has refused to grant us audience. In fact, as I am talking to you now, she doesn’t even want to see us. From what I heard from the wife (Akinleye’s wife), the woman is planning to kill him.
“And this is our fear, because from some of the things I heard about the woman, she is very powerful and influential. And I am sure she must have bribed the police not to release our brother and for them not to let us see him. We have gone there about three times; they didn’t let us see him.”
Also speaking, Akinleye’s wife, Mrs. Idayat Akinleye, said, “My three children and I have been in pains since their father was arrested. We have visited the police station three times, but they did not let us see him. The woman told me categorically that my husband would not get out of it and that she wished him dead.
“Several times, some of our family members and I have tried to discuss with her to see if we can be paying her the debt in instalment, but she refused. She is determined to kill my husband.”
Narrating how her husband was arrested, Mrs. Akinleye said, “We were in church that day and all of a sudden, three police men from SARS came and arrested him. We all went out of the church service, including the pastor, to intervene, but they just dragged him away to their station and since that day, we have not been able to see him.”
When asked what business transaction transpired between her husband and Iya Alex that resulted in the debt, Mrs. Akinleye said that she had no clue as to what brought about the development.
“I don’t know what business they did together that led to this issue,” she said.
She added that her husband was a commercial driver, who sometimes was engaged by customers to help them to deliver goods.
When contacted, Iya Alex, who specialises in the sale of foodstuffs, denied any plan to eliminate Akinleye, saying such claim was untrue and unfounded.
She revealed that Akinleye was arrested for diverting the foodstuffs she gave to him since February for supply.
She said Akinleye took the foodstuffs to Mile 12 in Lagos to sell without bringing back her money.
Iya Alex said, “Akinleye diverted my goods to Mile 12 in Lagos and sold them. Since then, he has not brought back my money.
“His family has been blackmailing me since that I want to kill him. This is not true. How can I kill someone that is already in police custody?”
While confirming that Akinleye owed her N2million, the foodstuff dealer said she never prevented Akinleye’s kinsmen from seeing him in police custody.
“His wife has seen him several times to give him food at the station. The matter will be charged to court because the Ogun State Commissioner of Police is already aware. Akinleye is in Magbon Police Division in Abeokuta, as I speak,” she added.
