I met Babatunde Ogunbajo (BOZO AUTOS LLP) during a trip to the U.S. in July 2007. He had been introduced to me by a mutual friend and I was supposed to buy three used Nissan frontier trucks through him from the auctions. On the 24th of July 2007, I paid seven thousand eight hundred dollars ($7,800.00) into his wife Zainab Ogunbajo's account at Bank of America. He proceeded to buy me a 2000 model truck with these funds. He subsequently helped me to arrange for shipping of this and two other trucks I had bought from other dealers. He was paid a commission for his services.
I was satisfied with my transactions with Mr. Ogunbajo and I entered into discussions with him to buy me another set of three Nissan trucks. Between 2nd October and 9th November 2007, I made a series of on-line and wire transfers to Mr. Ogunbajo/Zainab Ogunbajo/ Bozo Autos Accounts (Chevy Chase Bank and Bank of America), totaling thirty thousand and fifty dollars ($30,050.00)
At the time, Mr. Ogunbajo and I had a gentleman’s agreement that for each vehicle bought; he would send me copies of the title, the receipt and
photographs. For this service he was supposed to receive $500/vehicle. And an additional $100/vehicle delivered to the ports.
Mr. Ogunbajo claimed to have bought two of the vehicles, but came up with excuse after excuse why the vehicles had not been shipped. Between the 12th of November and 12th December 2007, I kept asking for a refund but again Mr. Ogunbajo has come up with excuse after excuse why the refund was being delayed. Every day it was a different story. After a while, he completely cut-off all communication with me. He would not take my calls; he would not return voice messages and would not reply my emails. I contacted his siblings to report my problem with their brother and they promptly dissociated themselves from him, claiming they’d have nothing to do with his “business” antics. I reported the details of my transactions with Mr. Ogunbajo on the website of the Consumer Protection Division of The Office of the Attorney General of the State of Maryland and on ripoffreport.com. I asked all and sundry for help in recovering my money from Mr. Ogunbajo.
Mr. Ogunbajo who had been avoiding me learnt of the report and promptly called me. He reassured me that he had indeed purchased the vehicles. I demanded proof to be sure that there were vehicles on their way to me; he sent dock receipts to ‘prove’ that the vehicles were actually with the shipper. He also promised he would make a refund of the outstanding $8,200 before 31st December 2007. He failed to meet this deadline but called to say that he would definitely pay by 18th of January 2008. He failed to keep his word on this occasion as well. On the 7th of February 2008, the 1st truck arrived in Lagos; the 2nd one never made it here.
On the 7th of February 2008, the 1st truck arrived in Lagos; the 2nd one never made it here.
The 1st truck:
As stated earlier, Mr. Ogunbajo and I agreed that for each vehicle, he would send me both the receipt and the title. For the first truck;
He sent me the photographs and the title only and gave a cock and bull story of why the receipt could not be sent at the time.
I tried to do a vehicle history check on www.carfax.com but the VIN number that appeared on the title document was illegible. I called Mr. Ogunbajo and informed him of this.
Over the telephone, he gave me what was supposed to be the "correct" VIN number. This VIN number generated a report for a white 2004 Nissan Frontier; 4-wheel drive with 47,436miles.
When the vehicle arrived in Lagos, it was indeed a white frontier but it had only 40,123miles and it was not a 4 x 4! It was rear drive only!
I suspected foul play, the vehicle had been re sprayed in some areas and there was a funny noise coming from the axle. I ran a carfax check which revealed that the vehicle had been clocked! It has actually done 188,217miles!! 50,735miles/year
I have been unable to sell this !!!vehicle because of its dodgy history. I am now forced to use it and it’s been horrible. The transmission whines, it overheats and it consumes fuels at an alarming rate. I’ve used Frontiers before, so I know when I’m stuck with a lemon.
I am convinced that this Odometer fraud was committed deliberately by Mr. Ogunbajo because:
He has failed to release the receipt in spite our agreement; thus showing that he bought the vehicle a much lower price than the $9,550 he claimed.
He sent a copy of the title document from which it was impossible to make out the correct VIN number
He chose to mislead me by giving the wrong VIN number when I asked to do a carfax check
He satisfied himself that once the vehicle got to Lagos I would either never find out or I would just accept my fate.
The 2nd truck:
I noted in my email to Mr. Ogunbajo in December that the Dock receipt which he sent for this truck did not have the shipping company stamp borne by the other one. He insisted it was an oversight and that the vessel bearing the truck would soon leave for Lagos.
Although Mr. Ogunbajo claimed in his rebuttal on ripoffreport.com that the vehicle had been bought and was with the shipper scheduled to sail on the 6th of December, the carfax report shows that the vehicle was actually purchased on that day (Dec 6.) that he claimed the vessel would leave for Nigeria.
The carfax report also indicated that the vehicle had been re-sold. It reads; “Registration issued or renewed, Loan or lien reported” for this vehicle in Alexandria, VA on the 31st of January 2008, while the vehicle was supposed to be at the port.
Tunde Ogunbajo has demonstrated over the last four months that his car dealer business is merely a platform for his fraudulent activities. He has been truthful only in his 1st transaction with me! When accosted about the sale of the 2nd vehicle, Mr. Ogunbajo acknowledged that there was indeed a “problem” with the truck so he would make a full refund of all outstanding monies by Tuesday 19th of February 21, 2008.
Deadlocked Talks
Mr. Ogunbajo reneged yet again on this agreement to pay. When challenged, he claimed he had been maligned on ripoffreport.com and until the report is removed, he would make no further payments. Having posted a rebuttal on the site himself, Mr. Ogunbajo is aware of the terms and conditions for posting on the site, these include the fact that petitions/comments may not be removed once posted.
We met on the 13th of March 2008, Mr. Ogunbajo made an additional payment and we agreed that I would write a rejoinder to the report on ripoffreport.com after which Mr. will pay the balance of $5,850. I offered to send him the draft of the rejoinder before posting it on ripoffreport.com.
I have sent him the rejoinder, Mr. Ogunbajo claims that the rejoinder does not sufficiently clear his name. I have tried to reason with him that the rejoinder contains the facts of the matter including that we are now talking and he is now paying, but he remains unsatisfied. I offered that he should edit the rejoinder as he would like it and send it to me. If I found it satisfactory, I would post it. If not, I would further edit it and send it back to him.
He has refused all entreaties regarding a revised rejoinder.
He has since refused to take my calls or reply my emails.
