Abia magistrate’s car stolen, police begin probe

The Abia State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a stolen Toyota Corolla belonging to Chief Magistrate Mrs. Ngozi Pearl Lekwa. The vehicle was reportedly taken from outside a court premises in Umuahia, the state capital.

Confirming the incident, the command's spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chinaka, stated that the case has been reported and an investigation is underway to recover the vehicle and identify those responsible. The police assured the public that the matter is being treated with seriousness and urged anyone with useful information to come forward.

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The above was reported, and investigation is ongoing.

According to Mrs. Lekwa, she parked her black Toyota Corolla, a 2008 model commonly known as a "bank car," outside the court at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday before heading to her office. Upon returning shortly after noon, she discovered the vehicle was missing. A friend later reported seeing the car being driven at high speed away from the vicinity of Market Square, though the driver was not clearly identified by Mrs. Lekwa.

Mrs. Lekwa confirmed she had not authorized anyone to use the vehicle and was in possession of the car key when she discovered the theft. She had recently ordered steering locks for her vehicles as an added security measure, but only one had been delivered before the incident. The magistrate has formally reported the theft to the police and is appealing to the public for vigilance and any sightings of the vehicle to aid in tracking the suspects.

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However, upon stepping out of the court premises shortly after noon, I discovered that the vehicle was no longer where I parked it.