I only moved the Car from Abuja To Delta State, I didn't steal it— Man Who Absconded With N55m Benz During Test Drive

Command Spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, Reveals Suspect's Car Theft Scheme: Posing as Buyer to Steal Vehicles.

Meshach Isinugo, a 25-year-old man also known as Big Shark, has confessed to taking a N55 million Mercedes Benz SUV during a test drive in Abuja. However, he claims he is not a car thief and only drove the car to Delta State without the owner's knowledge.

The Delta State Police Command arrested Meshach Isinugo in Benin City, Edo State, and recovered the stolen car from a bush along Oteri Road in Ughelli North. According to DSP Bright Edafe, the spokesperson of the command, the suspect has a history of stealing cars while posing as a potential buyer.

Meshach explained that during the test drive, the car dealer, who was sitting in the passenger seat, went to get cash for fuel at a filling station but didn't return promptly. Feeling anxious about the situation, he decided to use the car and drove it to Delta State. He stated that the next day, he saw his picture on the internet, posted by the dealer, calling him a car thief and threatening police involvement. This made him turn off his phone to avoid being traced until his eventual arrest in Benin, Edo State.

Meshach described himself as being involved in foreign exchange and bureau de change business, which he started in Istanbul Airport, Turkey. He has been in this business for seven years and had recently returned to Nigeria after the general elections.

Regarding the car incident, Meshach clarified that he did not steal the car but got the owner's contact from an online platform where the car was listed for sale. He negotiated with the seller to buy the car for N30 million, and during the test drive, the seller left to buy fuel but never returned. Meshach tried to reach the seller but couldn't, so he drove the car to Delta State for his business.

However, when the dealer posted his picture online and accused him of theft, Meshach's uncle found out and got angry, slapping him and threatening to report the incident to the police. This led to Meshach running away and eventually getting arrested in Benin, Edo State.

In conclusion, Meshach maintains that he did not steal the car but rather drove it without the owner's knowledge. He believes the car dealer should find a way to retrieve the car instead of accusing him of theft.