A Lagos-based car dealer, Chima Edmund, has expressed concern over the release on bail of a man accused of attempting to steal a 2025 Toyota Tundra pickup worth about ₦130 million from his showroom in Lekki
Edmund, founder of Mayor and Sheiks Autos, alleged that the suspect drove the vehicle away from his showroom in the Victoria Garden City area on Monday, October 12, after reportedly posing as a prospective buyer.
The alleged theft ended in a crash when the suspect reportedly drove the pickup into a canal in the Ajiran area while attempting to escape. The incident also resulted in damage to a barricade at the VGC entrance, while some people sustained injuries.
According to Edmund, the damaged vehicle would cost approximately ₦40 million to repair. He said he had also paid for the repair of the barricade, medical treatment for injured persons and the suspect, as well as feeding and other expenses associated with the incident.
The dealer questioned the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release, alleging that he was pressured to withdraw the case after investigators reportedly established that the suspect had a psychiatric condition.
Edmund expressed frustration over the financial losses, insisting that he should not be left to bear the consequences of the incident alone.
However, the Lagos State Police Command dismissed allegations of improper conduct, with its spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, stating that the suspect was a psychiatric patient certified by recognised government hospitals and competent courts.
The circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release have raised concerns for the car dealer, who says he has incurred substantial expenses following the incident.
