Pix: Chima Edmund

By Samuel Ike, Abuja

A Lagos automobile dealer, Chima Edmund, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of releasing a suspect who allegedly drove away a 2025 Toyota Tundra pickup worth about ₦130 million from his showroom in Victoria Garden City, Lekki. The vehicle was damaged after the suspect reportedly crashed into a canal in Ajiran while attempting to escape, with repair costs estimated at ₦40 million.

Edmund, founder of Mayor and Sheiks Autos, said the suspect arrived at his dealership around 4pm on Monday, posing as a prospective buyer. He allegedly requested the vehicle’s key to inspect its engine before driving away. According to the dealer, his staff pursued the suspect, who reportedly damaged a residential estate barricade before eventually driving the pickup into a canal.

The dealer said he incurred additional expenses covering barricade repairs and medical treatment for injured persons, including the suspect. He explained that the matter was reported at the Ajah Police Division and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba. Edmund said he became concerned after learning that the suspect had been released on bail.

He alleged that investigators pressured him to withdraw the complaint after the suspect was reportedly identified as having a psychiatric condition. Edmund, who has been in the automobile business since 1996, described the incident as unprecedented and appealed for assistance in recovering his losses. He also explained that the vehicle had no tracking device because it was new and had not been sold.

However, the police command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, denied any wrongdoing, stating that recognised government hospitals and competent courts had certified the suspect as a psychiatric patient. She said the dealer submitted a withdrawal letter after the findings emerged, following which the suspect was handed over to his mother for rehabilitation.

The police spokesperson’s claims could not be independently verified because the documents requested to support the alleged medical certification and withdrawal of the complaint were not provided. Edmund maintains that the incident has left him facing substantial financial losses and is seeking a resolution to the matter.