Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 20 Cars ‘Stolen’ From Canada

The order was made after the EFCC moved an application for the forfeiture of the cars since no person came to claim them.

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 safetied 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 had delegated their interests to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police liaison officer with the Canadian Embassy in Nigeria to pursue their interests.”