A Lagos car dealer, Chima Edmund, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of releasing the man suspected of attempting to steal a 2025 Toyota Tundra pickup worth about N130m from his showroom in the Victoria Garden City area of Lekki, Lagos State.
The car dealer whose car was stolen earlier this week shares an update on the thief who drove it from his dealership and was caught by residents.
Speaking on Friday, Edmund, founder of Mayor and Sheikhs Autos, said the suspect damaged the car after driving it from his showroom on Monday, October 12.
Edmund added that he paid for barricade repairs and incurred expenses for treating people injured by the thief, as well as the thief’s feeding and other related costs.
The dealer said he also paid for the thief’s medical treatment after the crash, adding that the man was not kept in a cell because of his injuries.
Edmund alleged that he was pressured to withdraw the case after investigators established that the suspect had a psychiatric condition.
“I am already suspecting foul play in the police dealings because I was hurried to close the case when the man was confirmed to be a psychiatric patient. Just yesterday evening, he had been released on bail.
“For somebody who caused me such heavy damage, how am I going to bear these losses alone, knowing that the culprit has been released? Somebody attempted to steal a car from my outlet. It is sad,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Command PRO, SP Abimbola Adebisi, denied allegations that the police improperly released the suspect.
“The suspect is a psychiatric case, certified by recognised government hospitals and competent courts,” she said.
