A Lagos-based car dealer, Chima Edmund, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of releasing a man suspected of stealing a luxury pickup truck from his showroom, leaving him with an estimated ₦40 million repair bill.
Edmund, the founder of Mayor and Sheiks Autos, said the suspect allegedly drove away a 2025 Toyota Tundra worth approximately ₦130 million from his dealership in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) area of Lekki, Lagos State, on Monday, October 12, 2026.
According to the dealer, the suspect reportedly posed as a prospective customer and requested the vehicle’s key under the pretext of inspecting its engine. He allegedly started the pickup and drove off while the dealership’s staff believed he was examining the vehicle.
Edmund said the suspect’s escape came to an end in the Ajiran area after he reportedly drove the vehicle into a canal, causing significant damage to the pickup. The incident also allegedly resulted in damage to a barricade at the VGC entrance, while some people sustained injuries.
The dealer explained that he incurred additional expenses, including repairs to the damaged barricade and medical treatment for those injured. He also said he paid for the suspect’s medical care following the crash.
Edmund expressed concern after learning that the suspect had been released on bail, alleging that he was pressured to withdraw the complaint after investigators reportedly established that the man had a psychiatric condition.
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Describing the incident as unprecedented in his nearly 30 years in the automobile business, the dealer appealed for assistance in recovering the financial losses caused by the incident.
However, the Lagos State Police Command rejected allegations of improper conduct. Its spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the suspect had been certified as a psychiatric patient by recognised government hospitals and competent courts.
Adebisi further claimed that Edmund submitted a letter withdrawing the complaint after the medical information emerged during the investigation, after which the suspect was handed over to his mother for rehabilitation.
The police spokesperson’s account could not be independently verified by PUNCH, which reported that the requested documents supporting the alleged medical certification and withdrawal of the complaint were not provided.
The incident has raised concerns about security procedures at luxury car dealerships and the financial implications of vehicle theft attempts for automobile businesses
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