Court arraigns car dealer over alleged false stolen vehicle report

An Abuja businessman, Mr Ibrahim Garba was on Wednesday, arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court Wuse for alleged criminal decimation of Mr Shehu Abdullahi, a businessman in the same premises.

Garba is the Managing Director of Wakaso Car Ltd. located at the Royal Park Garden of Wuse, Abuja.

The prosecuting counsel, Simeon Wujat, informed the court that the complainant, Mr Shehu Abdullahi of the same address, brought the matter to the court on June 24,2026.

The prosecutor said that on the June 17, 2026, the complainant came into his business premises and park his Honda Civic car in front of his business space.

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Wujat said that on that same day at about 8:04pm the complainant was suprise when he saw a team of well-armed and fiercely looking police officers with a road safety towing van, attempting to towing his car.

The counsel said that upon making a peaceful inquiry, the complainant was told by the team leader of the squad that the defendant had reported to the police that the car is a stolen vehicle.

The prosecutor said that his client was embarrassed and was made to write a statement in respect to his own car, which was maliciously reported and declared by the defendant as a stolen vehicle.

Wujat informed the court that, the complaint provided a certified-true-copy of the said vehicle at the police station on June 17 with the copy of his proof of ownership and registration particulars.

The prosecution told the court that upon careful investigation by the Police, it was found out that, the defendant intentionally and spitefully gave the Police false information about the car.

According to him, the act inevitably distracted, maligned and defame the complainant’s good reputation, within and outside his business.

He alleged that the defendant malicious and false information which he gave to the Police against the complainant and his car, had portrayed him as a car thief.

Wujat explained that the act also portray his client as a criminal, thereby tarnishing his unassailable good reputation and good will.

The prosecutor said, the offence contrary to sections 391 and punishable under section 392 of the penal code ACT 9060.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge when readed to him.

The defendant counsel, Mr Hamza Dantani applied for the bail of the defendant citing sections 158 and 162 of the administration of criminal justice act (ACJA) saying bail is at the discretion of court.

Ruling on the applicantion of the defendant, Magistrates Faridah Ibrahim, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3 million in like sum with a surety.

She ordered that surety who the couple to the defendant to submit his call to bar certificate and an undertaking to provide the defendant whenever he is needed in court.

She also said that the counsel tot the defendant will be made to face disciplinary committee should he fail to produce the defendant.