Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 20 ‘Stolen’ Cars From Canada To Nigerian Gov’t

Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the permanent forfeiture of 20 cars, allegedly stolen from residential driveways and company car lots in Canada and shipped to Nigeria to the federal government of Nigeria.

Justice Dipeolu made the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) moved a motion on notice for the forfeiture of the cars since no person or organisation came forward to claim them.

The judge had on May 27, 2024, ordered the interim forfeiture of the cars while directing the EFCC to publish the order for any interested person to appear before the court and show cause why it should not be finally forfeited.

But at the resumed hearing, the EFCC lawyer, Rahman Abdulrasheed told the court that his agency had complied with the court’s directives.

Abdulrasheed also submitted that the final forfeiture orders sought by his employer were under Section 44(2)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended); Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

The lawyer also asked the court for “an order of the Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria all the properties mentioned in the attached schedules of this application, which properties are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through stealing and with proceeds from other unlawful economic activities.

“An order of the Court empowering the Canadian Deputy High Commission in Nigeria or any other officer so designated by the office to dispose of the forfeited properties mentioned in the attached Schedules 1-2 of this application either by sale or return to the victims, subject to remittance of the statutory two per cent from the proceeds to the EFCC Recovery Account.”

Justice Dipeolu, after listening to the anti-graft agency’s lawyer and reading through all the processes filed before the court with the authorities cited, granted the prayers sought and ordered the final forfeiture of 20 cars.

The cars with their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) finally forfeited to the Federal government are black colour SUV 400, 4JGDA5GB4JB171399; 4MATIC Mercedes Benz white colour, 5J8YD4H8XKL802910; SUV MDX SH-AWD Acura, JTJDZKCA7J2001379; grey colour SUV RS 350L Lexus, ZT2BZMCAIKC169393; Deep Blue SUV RX 350 Lexus, JTEBUS5JR2F524329; white colour Toyota 4Runner 2015, 2T2ZMDA4LC226597; White Colour 2020 model Lexus RX 350, 2TBZMCA5KC176315; White 2019 Lexus RX 350, 2T2JZMDA71C250961; Black 2020 Model Lexus RX350, 5FPYK3FIXHB506759; and Black Honda Ridgeline 2017 Model, 2T2BZMCA6J140258.

Others are: White Lexus RX 350 SPORT 2019 Model, 2T2HZMDA9LC217488; Grey Colour Lexus RX 350 2019 Model, JTBU5JROIJ5488955; Grey Colour Toyota 4Runner 2018 Model, 2T28ZMCAOKC187920; White Lexus RX 350 FS Sport 2019 Model, STDJZRFHXHS516516; White Toyota Highlander XLE AWD 2017 Model, 2T2BZMCAOKC187929; Black Toyota Highlander 2020 Model, STDJRFHZHS516516; Black Toyota Highlander 2018 Model, 5TDJ2RFOKS62467; Black Mercedes Benz G550 2019 Model, 5TDDZRFH9JS493877; Red Lexus Rx 350 2016 Model, 2T2BZMCA5GC007709, WDCYC6BJ5KX302861; Black Lexus Rx 350 2016 Model, 2T2BZMCA1GC038813, and White Mercedes Benz GLA 250 2018 Model, WDCTGB7JJ497934.

The EFCC in an affidavit in support of the application deposed to by one of its investigators, Olufemi Olukini, states the following: “Sometime in April 2022, during an official meeting held at 7A Okotie-eboh Street, Ikoyi Lagos between officials of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCM) and Lagos Zonal Command of EFCC officials passed a credible intelligence to the Commission which alleged that over 350 vehicles comprehensively listed on an Excel sheet with their respective vehicle identification Number (VIN) were stolen from various locations in Canada and shipped to Nigeria.

“These vehicles have been sold on an online website, www.ii.com, by some online vendors/agents while others are displayed for sale at various car stands across the country.

“The cars are listed in a comprehensive Excel sheet alongside some pictures and information. And that some of these vehicles are intercepted at the point of entry into Nigeria at Tincan Island port, Lagos

“Our team commenced preliminary investigation into the case by identifying the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of each of the said stolen vehicles and subjecting them to analysis using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT).

“That preliminary results from the analysis revealed the vehicles were located mainly across Lagos State metropolis, particularly Lekki, at different car stands and places and the Nigerian ports pending clearance into the country. That surveillance was safe-tied out on the identified locations, followed by sting operations, which led to the physical location and identification of these vehicles.

“That about 40 of the stolen vehicles were initially located by the intelligence team, who then brought a similar application in suit no. FHC/L/CS/2051/2023 between Economic and Financial Crimes Commission V. Wilmon Autos Nigeria Limited & 177 ORS wherein Honourable Justice D. I. Dipeolu granted a final forfeiture order on 6 March 2024.

“That soon after the above order was granted, the intelligence team further located the vehicles listed in Schedules 1 and 2 of this application, which necessitated this present suite.

“The 13th to 20th respondents described in Schedules 1 and 2 attached to this application were recovered as part of the stolen vehicles and shipped to Nigeria. And that the VIN of the vehicles corresponds with those of the stolen cars contained in the intelligence received from RCMP, and no person has come forward to claim ownership of these vehicles.

“Investigation carried out revealed that the motor vehicles described aforesaid were stolen from Canada and shipped to Nigeria between March and June 2022. And that most of these vehicles were insured, and the insurance companies involved had indemnified the respective owners of the cars.

“The insurance companies are now in the position of the owners having delegated their interests to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police liaison officer with the Canadian Embassy in Nigeria to pursue their interests.”