STV presenter Yvonne ‘Vixen’ Ekwere’s
2000 model Grey Toyota Camry v6 salon car (with Plate number EX 123 BC
Lagos) was allegedly stolen by unidentified robbers at the Oriental
Hotels, Lekki in Lagos on Saturday, July 28, 2012.
The red carpet diva gave NET the details
of the robbery and told us how security officials, including the
police, seem reluctant to recover the car.
Read below…
On Saturday, the 28th of July 2012,
at about 6:46pm, I drove into the new car park under construction at the
Oriental Hotel, Ozumba Mbadiwe str, V/I Lagos. The “Security” guard
stationed at the gate; as usual did not take my plate number, issue me a
parking ticket or try to identify the driver of the car, as normally
done with other guests who drive into that particular car park.
I had been invited to cover two events; the ‘YNaija Hashtag’ party and senator Ita Giwa’s daughter’s dinner party.
After I had finished work at both
events at around 11:15pm, I noticed that my car was not at the spot I
had parked it on. I, and the hotel security men combed the entire car
park several times to be sure I did not forget where I had parked and
still did not find my car.
However, an empty carton which I had
used to identify my parking space was at the same spot I parked, but
surprisingly, the car wasn’t.
I ordered the security men (who were
rather dismissive and un-professional) to take me to their head
security officer and security control room to watch footage of the
recordings in the car park. The Chinese men, whose names I can’t recall,
seemed un-sure, confused and spoke in their native tongue amongst
themselves while checking for footage; still they were not able to give
me tangible results on camera. I never saw footage of when I drove in or
how and who drove the car out; instead I was shown footage of what was
happening in LIVE time.
My suspicion is that it is the
cameras at the car park are dummies; they do not work, they were not
recording at that particular time or the camera was switched off when
the theft took place.
The hotel management did not bother
to take my name, personal contacts, apologize or try to sort out the
situation; instead they all backed out, one after the other, giving
flimsy excuses.
I once again asked to see the head
of security or a proper management staff and we were told that the
situation was being sorted out and I would not see anyone until it was
sorted.
I was asked by an acquaintance to
call the CP of Lagos who asked me to report the issue to the nearest
police station (which was Maroko police station). I did and I’m yet to
get feedback from the police.
Till now, none of the management
staff from Oriental has tried to reach me and I hear this is not the
first case of car theft in the hotel.
This is not in any way acceptable, as a hotel of such magnitude should be seen to keep guests and their personal property safe.
The car park, which has the
company’s security men and police officers assigned to the different
floors of the parking lot should be one of the safest places, if not THE
safest place for guest’s parked cars. But its’ safety is seriously in
question, given this report.
Photo Credit: yvonnevixen.tumblr.com
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