“I Don’t Believe The Police Gave Us The Correct Amount My Son Had With Him” Says The Father Of The Deceased

By Akpabio Aniema

Benjamin Idim who works with Diamond Bank Plc, in Gwarimpa branch, Abuja, died in a car crash at Utako, Abuja last week, and was said to have about N2m in his car but the bulk of the money has yet to be recovered. Benjamin (23 years old), was believed to have lost control and crashed his Kia Soul car at midnight while returning from a visit to a friend.

His body and his wrecked car evacuated by the police and his remains had long being buried on Saturday in Calabar. About N800, 000 and his two phones were recovered and returned to his parents by the police but family members and friends contended that Benjamin had about N2m in his car.

A friend of the late Benjamin who identified himself simply as Kunle, said he was surprised when we heard that the police recovered only N800, 000.00. ” I don’t know the actual amount he had with him, but am sure is more than what the police has returned”

The father of the deceased, Mr Ita, said he and his wife were out of the country when they got a call that their son had died in a fatal car crash and his corpse was being kept in the mortuary. He said that they had to return to the country immediately. He said, ‘‘We went to the police at Utako and they handed over two phones and N800, 000.00 which they said was recovered from the car of my son.’’ Later we learnt that the money in the car was more than the amount the police gave us, the bank also confirmed that he had more than that amount with him.’’ If the police can hand over N800, 000.00, you can be sure that he had more than that amount in the car, the Nigerian police force can’t give you all the money they recovered’’.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altienne Daniel said  ‘‘I am not aware of the case, but I’m sure the police were the first to arrive at the scene? Besides, saving the boy’s life would be their priority, nobody would be checking the boot of the car to know whether he had money there or the amount of money in the car’’, she stated.