A man on Saturday gave details of how he is still seeking justice after men of the Lagos State Police Command helped him recover his stolen vehicle and thereafter sold it at auction.
The man, Oguji Jeremiah Onyebuchi, disclosed in a post on his X handle on Saturday evening that the vehicle, a Lexus RX350 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), was stolen in 2022.
He added that he reported the matter at the command and the Crack Squad of the Commissioner of Police swung into action, recovered the car and he was asked to pay the sum of N400,000 to get the vehicle back which he said he paid.
However, to his chagrin, after making the payment and while waiting to receive his recovered vehicle, he was informed that the vehicle had been auctioned without his consent.
His narration goes: “I previously posted about my Lexus RX 350 SUV, which was stolen in 2022 and later recovered by the CP Crack Squad, Ikeja.
“I was asked to pay ₦400,000 after the recovery. I paid. But I still lost my vehicle. After making my payment, I expected to receive my recovered vehicle.
“Instead, I was later informed that the vehicle had been sold/auctioned without my consent. I have never stopped asking one simple question: How was my recovered vehicle sold and who authorised it?
“After my previous post gained attention, I was invited to Abuja by the CRU for an interview. I honoured the invitation.
“I provided my statements, petitions, payment evidence, communications and, most importantly, video evidence relating to the recovery of my vehicle. I cooperated fully.
“The CRU officers went further and contacted the police officers who were involved in the recovery. According to what happened during the investigation, the officers confirmed that they recovered and sold the vehicle. The officers were subsequently invited to appear and answer questions.
“But this is where my frustration begins. One of the officers reportedly said he didn’t have transportation to honour the invitation. Other officers invited in connection with the matter have, to my knowledge, still not honoured the invitations.
“I ask: how is a citizen supposed to get justice this way? I have done my part. I reported the theft. The vehicle was recovered. I made the payment I was asked to make. I traveled to Abuja when invited. I provided video evidence. I wrote another petition. I gave another statement. I have continued following up.
“Yet, years later, I am still without my Lexus RX 350 and without the justice I have been seeking. I am not asking anyone to take my word blindly.
“I am asking for a proper investigation of the evidence I have submitted and for every officer involved to answer the questions put to them.
“I am appealing to the Nigeria Police Force, police leadership, CRU and relevant oversight authorities to please intervene.
“If my vehicle was recovered and subsequently sold, I want to know who authorised the sale? Where the vehicle went, and why I was denied the opportunity to recover my property..
“Please amplify this until it reaches the right authorities, journalists and Nigerians who can help ensure this matter is properly investigated. I have not given up.”
