Court orders final seizure of 20 cars stolen from Canada

Justice Deinde I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, on Monday, July 15, 2024, ordered the final confiscation of 20 cars stolen from Canada to Nigeria.

The cars were handed over to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge made the order following a motion for notice filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The seized vehicles are: a black 400 SUV, a white Mercedez Benz 4MATIC; an Acura MDX SH-AWD SUV; a gray Lexus RS 350L SUV; a dark blue Lexus RX 350 SUV, a white 2015 Toyota 4Runner; a white 2020 Lexus RX 350; a white 2019 Lexus RX 350, a black 2020 Lexus RX350, and a black 2017 Honda Ridgeline.

The others are: 2019 white Lexus RX 350 SPORT; 2019 gray Lexus RX 350; 2018 gray Toyota 4Runner; 2019 white Lexus RX 350 FS Sport; 2017 white Toyota Highlander XLE AWD; 2020 black Toyota Highlander; 2018 black Toyota Highlander; 2019 black Mercedes Benz G550; 2016 red Lexus Rx 350 and 2018 white Mercedes Benz GLA 250.

Justice Dipeolu, on May 27, 2024, ordered the temporary seizure of the said cars and also directed that the order be published in any national newspaper so that anyone interested can appear in court and show cause why the cars should not be permanently seized.

At Monday’s hearing, the EFCC, through its legal counsel, RA Abdulrasheed, told the court that the Commission had complied with the court order regarding the publication.

In making the application for the final confiscation order, Abdulrasheed told the court that the application was supported by a 17-paragraph affidavit submitted by Olufemi Olukini, an investigator with the EFCC, and a written address.

The EFCC, in its affidavit, stated that “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 the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, the officials presented credible intelligence to the Commission alleging: “That over 350 vehicles, comprehensively listed on an excel sheet with their respective Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), were stolen from various locations in Canada and shipped to Nigeria.

“That the vehicle has been sold and/or is being sold via 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 vehicles were listed in a comprehensive excel sheet with some pictures and information about them. And some of these vehicles were intercepted at the entry point into Nigeria at Tincan Island port, Lagos.

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“Our team began the initial investigation of this case by identifying the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of each stolen vehicle and conducting an analysis using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT).

“Preliminary results of the analysis revealed that the vehicles were mostly in Lagos State metropolis, especially Lekki in various car parks and other places as well as Nigerian seaports awaiting entry into the country. And the surveillance was, subsequently, conducted at the identified locations followed by undercover operations leading to the physical location and identification of these vehicles.

The Commission further stated in its affidavit that “about 40 stolen vehicles were initially recovered by the intelligence team, who subsequently filed a similar application in suit no. FHC/L/CS/2051/2023 between Economic and Financial Crimes Commission V. WILMON AUTOS NIGERIA LIMITED & 177 ORS where the final order of confiscation was granted by Honourable Justice DI Dipeolu on March 6, 2024.

“That immediately after the above order was granted, the intelligence team further located the vehicles listed in schedules 1 and 2 of this application, which required this sequence.

“That the 13th to 20th respondents described in schedules 1 and 2 attached to this application were found to be part of a stolen vehicle and shipped to Nigeria. And that the VIN of the said vehicle matches the stolen vehicle listed in the intelligence received from the RCMP and no one has come forward to claim ownership of the vehicle.

“Investigations conducted revealed that the above described motor vehicles were stolen from Canada and shipped to Nigeria between March and June 2022. And most of these vehicles were insured and the insurance companies involved have reimbursed the respective vehicle owners.

“The insurance companies are now standing in the shoes of the owners and have delegated their interests to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police liaison officer with the Canadian Embassy in Nigeria to fight for their interests.

“That based on the facts stated in paragraphs 1-13 above, this Honorable Court on May 27, 2024 has granted the application for temporary confiscation and ordered the issuance of the said order.”

Therefore, Abdulrasheed prayed that “the Court order that all the properties mentioned in the schedule attached to this application be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which properties are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through theft and proceeds of other unlawful economic activities.

“Order of the Court authorizing the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria or such other officer as may be appointed by the said office, to dispose of the seized properties as specified in schedules 1-2 attached to this application either through sale or restitution to the victims, with a provision for the remittance of two per cent of the proceeds of the sale to the EFCC Recovery Account.”

Judge Dipeolu, after hearing Abdulrasheed’s statement, ordered the final seizure of the cars.

Court orders final seizure of 20 cars stolen from Canada first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.