The Abia State Police Command is searching for a black Toyota Corolla belonging to Chief Magistrate Mrs Ngozi Pearl Lekwa after it was stolen outside a court in Umuahia on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson DSP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
She said the case was reported and investigation is ongoing to recover the vehicle and arrest the thieves. The command asked members of the public to share any information that can help.
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Mrs Lekwa, who presides over Court 2 in Umuahia, said she parked the 2008 Toyota Corolla, popularly called “bank car”, along Finbarrs Road at about 9:00 a.m. before going to her office. She planned to leave later in the day for personal errands.
When she stepped out shortly after noon, the car was gone. A friend later told her she saw the vehicle speeding out of the Market Square area. The friend noticed a man driving but did not see the magistrate inside. She assumed it was an errand and did not raise an alarm until she heard the car was missing.
Mrs Lekwa said she still had the car key and had not allowed anyone to use the vehicle. She added that she ordered steering locks for her two cars a day earlier, but only one was delivered before the theft.
The magistrate has formally reported the matter to the police. She is appealing to the public to be vigilant and report any sighting of the black Toyota Corolla to security agencies.
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