By Mike Adeyemi
A member representing Share/Oke-Ode State Constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Rasaq Owolabi is demanding the return of a vehicle he doled out as an empowerment item to one of the beneficiaries, Alhaja Taibat Suleiman, for pledging loyalty to a faction of the AA caucus of the All Progressives Congress, not loyal to the Lawmaker, National Pilot learnt.
Owolabi had doled out cars, refrigerators, sewing machines, among others at an empowerment program in Share, which attracted applause from the Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Yakubu Danladi Salihu and other dignitaries who witnessed the event.
Findings by this medium revealed that Hon Razaq Owolabi has commenced process of reclaiming a Mazda Premacy with registration number SHA 786 LB, presented to Alhaja Taibat Suleiman during the widely publicized empowerment programme few months ago.
Alhaja Taibat Suleiman, from Share Ward II of Ifelodun Local Government Area, in a chat with our reporter accused the Lawmaker of several threats in desperate attempts to reclaim the car he (Owolabi) willingly presented to her during one of his empowerment programs earlier in the year.
According to her, it is appalling that Owolabi has threatened to reclaim the car despite the fact that it was registered in my name, hence I sought to sell the car.’
“I registered the car in my name after the empowerment, but decided to sell it few months ago because of the embarrassments and threats from the lawmaker, Razaq Owolabi.
“It’s however unfortunate and shocking that Razaq Owolabi has been accusing me of stealing a car he publicly presented to me during empowerment programme”, she said.
Continuing, “Owolabi is using police to harass the dealer I sold the car to, accusing him of buying stolen vehicle. The car belongs to me but I have since decided to sell it. He can’t intimidate me with police”.
“The pictures and other evidences are intact. He can continue to act like a child in politics”, Suleiman stressed
When contacted, the car dealer, Yusuf Abdullahi, who bought the vehicle, while answering questions from our reporter said the car was properly procured having affirmed the genueity of the car.
“I bought the Mazda from Alhaja Taibat, after seeing the vehicle particulars which confirms her ownership of it. I was however surprised when on Friday, around 10am, I got a call to report at Police Headquarters that I bought a stolen vehicle.
“inquired what brand of car and the police officer who called said the Mazda Primacy with him is a stolen car. I immediately called Alhaja that I am returning her car but she insisted the car is not stolen”, Abdullahi said.
