A Toyota Corolla belonging to a chief magistrate in Umuahia, Abia State, has been stolen from outside court premises along Finbarrs Road.
The vehicle, owned by Ngozi Pearl Lekwa, was reportedly parked outside the court complex at about 9 a.m. before she proceeded to her office for official duties.
Lekwa said she discovered the car was missing when she stepped out of the court premises shortly after noon.
According to her, a friend later reported seeing the vehicle being driven at high speed towards the Bende Road axis.
The witness reportedly assumed the driver had been sent on an errand by the owner and did not raise an alarm, despite finding the speed of the vehicle unusual.
“My friend initially assumed the driver had been sent on an errand by the owner and therefore did not raise an alarm, although she found the speed at which the vehicle was being driven unusual,” Lekwa said.
The magistrate said she had not authorised anyone to use the vehicle and still had the key in her possession when she realised it had been stolen.
She added that she had recently ordered steering locks for her vehicles, but only one had been delivered. The second, intended for the stolen car, had not arrived before the incident.
The vehicle was identified as a black Toyota Corolla with registration number AA 579 NBB.
The incident has been reported to the police, who have commenced investigations.
