A Toyota Corolla belonging to a Chief Magistrate in Abia State has reportedly been stolen from outside the court premises in Umuahia, prompting an appeal to the public for assistance in recovering the vehicle, ABN TV reports.
The owner of the vehicle, Chief Magistrate Mrs. Ngozi Pearl Lekwa of Court 2, Umuahia, narrated that she parked the black Toyota Corolla outside the court premises along Finbarrs Road, at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday before proceeding to her office for official duties.
According to Mrs. Lekwa, she had intended to briefly leave the office later in the day to attend to some personal errands. However, upon stepping out of the court premises shortly after noon, she discovered that the vehicle was no longer where she had parked it.
Speaking on the incident, the Chief Magistrate revealed that a friend later informed her that she had seen the vehicle being driven at high speed after exiting the vicinity of Market Square. The witness reportedly noticed a man behind the wheel but did not see Mrs. Lekwa in the vehicle.
The friend initially assumed the driver had been sent on an errand by the owner and therefore did not raise an alarm, although she found the speed at which the vehicle was being driven unusual. The vehicle was reportedly heading towards the Bende Road axis.
Mrs. Lekwa stated that she had not authorized anyone to use the vehicle and still had the car key in her possession at the time she discovered the theft.
In a twist of irony, the magistrate disclosed that she had only a day earlier ordered steering locks for two vehicles as an additional security measure. However, only one steering lock was delivered, while the second one intended for her vehicle had yet to arrive before the incident occurred.
The stolen vehicle is a black Toyota Corolla, 2008 model, commonly referred to as a “bank car.”
Vehicle details are as follows:
Registration Number: AA579NBB
Engine Number: 2565542
Chassis Number: JTDR22E1D0247899
Mrs. Lekwa confirmed that the matter had been formally reported to the police for immediate action.
Confirming the incident to ABN TV, DSP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Abia State Police Command, said the case has been reported to the police and that investigations are currently ongoing to recover the vehicle and apprehend those responsible for the theft.
The police spokesperson assured members of the public that the Command is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves and urged anyone with useful information that could aid the investigation to come forward.
Meanwhile, the public is advised to remain vigilant and report any sighting of the vehicle or any information that may assist security agencies in tracking down the suspects.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the nearest police station or reach out to the vehicle owner immediately.
Authorities believe that timely information from members of the public could play a vital role in recovering the stolen vehicle and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
