The Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday says that one Olumide Openaike, an employee of a microfinance bank based in Kemta Oloko area of the state, who was reported to have been missing and found in Mokwa, Niger State, staged his own abduction over a N1.7m debt.
The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed this on Tuesday [today].
The wife of the banker, Temitope, had told journalists how her husband, Olumide, went missing on Wednesday January 17, 2024 on his way to work.
Temitope had, however, the following day, revealed: “I am happy to tell you that my husband has been found in a place called Mokwa in Niger State. He called me on Tuesday afternoon.
“He got the phone from one of the residents there because he said those who abducted him collected his phone.
“We then told him to make a report at the police station there, the police officer on duty who spoke to us said he was in Mokwa.
“Transportation money was then arranged and sent to him, he got to Ibadan yesterday, Wednesday [January 24], where he slept, and his family members are at Ibadan. He will be back to Abeokuta today”.
The police have, however, described the reported abduction of the banker as fake.
Confirming the incident to journalists, Odutola said, “Yes, the Police have found out that the banker, Olumide Openaike, faked his abduction over N1.7m debt. The money belongs to the bank where he works.
“What happened was that a customer was remitting the money to the bank, but Openaike was diverting it to personal use.
“He said he then got depressed and decided to fake his abduction. He is already detained by the police.”
