Lagos shock as newly hired driver vanishes with employer’s car four days into job

A real estate developer in Lagos is searching for answers after a newly employed driver allegedly disappeared with his vehicle just four days after resuming work.

The victim, Olakanmi Ogundele, said the driver — who introduced himself as Adeleye at the time of employment but was later identified as Olufemi Jogbodo — was assigned to him on 18 October after his previous driver fell ill.

Ogundele told reporters that Jogbodo accompanied him on a business trip to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on the day he was hired and returned with him to Lagos two days later. The suspect then resumed regular duties, driving him to his office in Ikoyi.

The disappearance occurred while Ogundele was in a meeting.

“He told my security personnel that I sent him on an errand. Because the meeting was ongoing, the security officer couldn’t come in to verify. That was how he drove off with the car and never returned,” Ogundele said.

The stolen vehicle is a Gelly salon car with registration number AGL 586 GW.

The incident was reported to the Ikoyi Police Division, whose tactical team began a search for the suspect. However, Ogundele expressed frustration over the slow progress of the investigation.

Documents seen by reporters show that Jogbodo, 44, claimed to live on Dele Ogunbowale Street in Ikate and operated 11 bank accounts, raising deeper suspicion about his background.

The developer added that relatives of the suspect were tracked during the investigation. His wife’s sister and a cousin were arrested but later released after exceeding the legal detention period. Officers also located his 75-year-old mother in Agbado Ijaiye but did not arrest her due to her age.

The manager who recommended Jogbodo was detained for failing to verify the suspect’s identity. According to Ogundele, the manager admitted that the recruitment process was rushed because of the urgent need for a replacement driver.

With the car still missing and the suspect at large, Ogundele said plans are underway to announce a bounty to aid Jogbodo’s capture and recover the vehicle.