Lanre Shittu, Nigerian Automobile Tycoon, Passes Away

Renowned Nigerian automobile tycoon, Olanrewaju Rasak Shittu, has died at the age of 65. Mr Shittu was a successful entrepreneur and one of Nigeria's leading automobile dealers. He was the sole franchise dealer for Mack brand vehicles in Nigeria and was the largest supplier of genuine spare parts to automobile dealers across the country. He also held the exclusive dealership for Sany heavy-duty equipment and Yutong buses in Nigeria, in addition to being a licensed dealer of KIA, NISSAN, and Jinbei Buses.

Despite his success, Mr Shittu was not without controversy. In 2000, he was allegedly abducted by operatives from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and was arraigned in a U.S. court for money laundering charges. However, the District Court of New York lacked jurisdiction to hear the case as both countries had violated the extradition treaty.

Before his passing, Mr Shittu was also facing a pending civil suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over a move by the Federal Government to extradite him to the United States to answer to the alleged money laundering charge against him. The cause of his death is yet to be disclosed. The family has requested prayers for the departed soul.