NEWS
Chief Magistrate’s Vehicle Stolen Outside Court Premises in Umuahia, Police Launch Investigation
A black Toyota Corolla belonging to a Chief Magistrate in Abia State has been stolen from outside the court premises in Umuahia, triggering a police investigation and an urgent appeal for public assistance in tracking down the vehicle.
The owner of the vehicle, Chief Magistrate Mrs. Ngozi Pearl Lekwa of Court 2, Umuahia, recounted that she parked the car outside the court premises along Finbarrs Road at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday before proceeding to her office to carry out official duties.
According to her, she planned to briefly leave the office later in the day to attend to some personal engagements. However, when she stepped out of the court premises shortly after noon, she was shocked to discover that the vehicle had disappeared from where it had been parked.
Further details emerged when a friend informed Mrs. Lekwa that she had sighted the vehicle being driven at high speed shortly after it exited the vicinity of Market Square. The witness reportedly observed a man behind the wheel but noticed that the magistrate was not inside the vehicle.
Believing that the driver might have been running an errand on behalf of the owner, the witness initially saw no reason to raise an alarm. However, she later reflected on the unusually high speed at which the vehicle was being driven. The car was reportedly heading toward the Bende Road axis.
Mrs. Lekwa maintained that she had not authorized anyone to use the vehicle and revealed that the car key remained in her possession when she discovered the theft.
In a striking twist of fate, the Chief Magistrate disclosed that she had only a day earlier ordered steering locks for two vehicles as part of efforts to improve security. While one of the steering locks was delivered, the second one intended for the stolen vehicle had not yet arrived before the incident occurred.
The stolen vehicle is a black Toyota Corolla, 2008 model, popularly referred to as a “bank car.”
Vehicle Details:
Registration Number: AA579NBB
Engine Number: 2565542
Chassis Number: JTDR22E1D0247899
The incident has been formally reported to the police, who have commenced investigations aimed at recovering the vehicle and apprehending those responsible.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, stated that the matter is under active investigation and assured that the Command is treating the case with utmost seriousness.
She appealed to members of the public to provide any useful information that could assist security agencies in locating the vehicle and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any sighting of the stolen Toyota Corolla or any information that may aid ongoing efforts to recover the vehicle. They emphasized that timely and credible information from the public could prove crucial in solving the case and ensuring the arrest of those involved.