Magistrate’s car stolen outside court in Abia.

By Ugochukwu Alaribe, Umuahia

A Toyota Corolla belonging to a chief magistrate in Umuahia, Abia State, was reported stolen from a parking spot outside the court.

Chief Magistrate Mrs. Ngozi Pearl Lekwa of Court 2, Umuahia, said she had parked the black Corolla on Finbarrs Road at about 9 am before heading to her office for official duties.

She planned to return later in the day for personal errands but found the vehicle missing after leaving the court premises shortly after noon.

A friend later told her that the Corolla had been seen driving at high speed away from the area. The friend observed a man behind the wheel but did not see the magistrate in the car.

“My friend initially assumed the driver had been sent on an errand by the owner and therefore did not raise an alarm, although she found the speed at which the vehicle was being driven unusual. The vehicle was heading towards the Bende Road axis,” the magistrate explained.

She noted that she had not authorized anyone to use the vehicle and still possessed the car key when she discovered the theft.

Ironically, the magistrate had ordered steering locks for two vehicles a day earlier as an additional security measure. Only one lock had been delivered; the second, intended for her car, had not arrived before the incident.

Details of the vehicle are registration number AA 579 NBB, engine number 2565542, and chassis number JTDR22E1D0247899.

The magistrate confirmed that the theft had been reported to the police.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the case had been filed and investigations are underway. She urged anyone with information that could aid in recovering the vehicle to come forward.

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