A 2018 blue Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible, valued at approximately ₦600 million, was allegedly stolen from Nigerian businessman Cyril Obazuaye in April 2022. Obazuaye entrusted the vehicle to car dealer Henry Udubriah, with limited authority to show it to a prospective buyer. However, Udubriah disappeared with the car and remained unreachable for several months. Obazuaye subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police at the FCID, Abuja, and announced a ₦2 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the vehicle.
Police investigations eventually led to the recovery of the Rolls-Royce from two suspects who were allegedly preparing to sell it. Obazuaye presented documents to establish his ownership, including the original purchase invoice, certified shipping and customs clearance documents, a United States automobile dealership licence, and identification materials. However, despite the directive from then Assistant Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba to release the vehicle to Obazuaye, the suspects were later released without formal notification to the businessman.
The dispute subsequently centred on the suspects' claim that they had paid Udubriah ₦30 million for the vehicle. Obazuaye's lawyers questioned the legitimacy of the transaction, as the suspects did not provide bank transfer records or any verifiable payment trail to establish that the transaction had taken place. The lawyers alleged that police officers insisted Obazuaye must refund the ₦30 million reportedly paid to Udubriah before they would release the recovered vehicle to him.
Ibrahim Zungura, a Deputy Commissioner of Police at the time and now a Commissioner of Police, denied collecting money from anyone and challenged Obazuaye to provide evidence to support the bribery allegation. Zungura directed SaharaReporters to obtain a certified copy of the case records from the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, which would provide details of the investigation and actions taken by the police.
Obazuaye's solicitors, Adeboro Adamson, SAN & Co., petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, alleging that officers of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, eventually released the recovered luxury car to individuals suspected of involvement in its disappearance. The petition named Zungura, CSP Zoozinor Pikhomo, and investigating police officer Aliyu Yusuf Abulde as parties involved.
The Federal High Court in Lagos granted an order on July 20, 2022, through police channels, directing that the suspect's bank accounts be blocked pending the determination of the matter. The investigation was initially handled by an officer identified as Usuf Aliyu Ndülde, who was attached to the FCID's administrative offices in Alagbon. Abulde, who confirmed to SaharaReporters that he investigated the case from its beginning, declined to discuss the details, citing police media policy.
The case remains unresolved, with Obazuaye maintaining that he had neither received the money nor authorised the sale of his car. The petition argued that the disputed payment claim should not have been made a condition for returning property recovered during a police investigation.
Key points
- The Nigeria Police Force has been accused of releasing a recovered ₦600 million Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible to suspects allegedly involved in its disappearance.
- The businessman, Cyril Obazuaye, claims that police officers demanded he pay ₦30 million reportedly collected by suspects before releasing the vehicle to him.
- Ibrahim Zungura, a Commissioner of Police, has denied collecting money from anyone and challenged Obazuaye to provide evidence to support the bribery allegation.
