A Nigerian businessman, Cyril Obazuaye, has accused senior police officers of frustrating efforts to recover his ₦600 million Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible after it was allegedly stolen, claiming that officers demanded he pay ₦30 million reportedly collected by suspects before releasing the vehicle to him.
Obazuaye, through his solicitors, Adeboro Adamson, SAN & Co., petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, alleging that officers of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, eventually released the recovered luxury car to individuals suspected of involvement in its disappearance.
The petition named Ibrahim Zungura, who was a Deputy Commissioner of Police at the time and has since become a Commissioner of Police; CSP Zoozinor Pikhomo; and investigating police officer Aliyu Yusuf Abulde. It also accused car dealer Henry Udubriah and Emmanuel Olabode of involvement in the disappearance and subsequent handling of the vehicle.
However, Zungura has denied collecting money from anyone and challenged the businessman to provide evidence to support the bribery allegation.
Abulde, who confirmed to SaharaReporters that he investigated the case from its beginning, declined to discuss the details, citing police media policy. He said the matter was transferred after a request from the Inspector-General of Police’s office.
At the centre of the dispute is a 2018 blue Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible, with vehicle identification number SCA682DS4DUX75170. Obazuaye said the vehicle was legally imported into Nigeria in 2018 and was worth approximately ₦600 million as of June 2025.
His solicitors said he possesses original purchase invoices, shipping documents, customs clearance records and identification materials establishing his ownership.
How A Car Dealer Allegedly Disappeared With The Rolls-Royce
According to the petition, the dispute began in April 2022 when Obazuaye entrusted the vehicle to Udubriah, a car dealer, with limited authority to show it to a prospective buyer.
The solicitors said the arrangement did not authorise Udubriah to sell or dispose of the vehicle without their client’s consent. However, he allegedly disappeared with the car and remained unreachable for several months.
After efforts to contact him failed, Obazuaye reportedly sent someone to his address but discovered that neither the dealer nor the Rolls-Royce could be found.
The businessman subsequently lodged a formal complaint on May 16, 2022, with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police at the FCID, Abuja, through the FIB/IRT Commander, Gusape. The petition was submitted through his then solicitors, Shinaba, Ogon & Co.
He also announced a ₦2 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the vehicle.
A further petition was submitted on June 21, 2022, to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, through Rawling & Partners.
The solicitors said the Federal High Court in Lagos granted an order on July 20, 2022, through police channels, directing that the suspect’s bank accounts be blocked pending the determination of the matter.
The investigation was initially handled by an officer identified in the petition as Usuf Aliyu Ndülde, who was attached to the FCID’s administrative offices in Alagbon.
Police Recovered The Vehicle, But Dispute Over Its Release Followed
The petition stated that police investigations eventually led to the recovery of the Rolls-Royce from two suspects who were allegedly preparing to sell it.
Obazuaye reportedly presented documents to establish his ownership, including the original purchase invoice, certified shipping and customs clearance documents, a United States automobile dealership licence and identification materials.
According to his lawyers, after examining the documents, then Assistant Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba directed that the vehicle be released to their client.
However, the solicitors alleged that the directive was not implemented before Mba’s promotion to Deputy Inspector-General of Police and subsequent transfer to Abuja. The suspects were later released without the businessman being formally notified, according to the petition.
The dispute subsequently centred on the suspects’ claim that they had paid Udubriah ₦30 million for the vehicle.
According to Obazuaye’s lawyers, Olabode and the other individuals relied on the alleged transaction to challenge the release of the car to their client.
The solicitors said the suspects did not provide bank transfer records or any verifiable payment trail to establish that the transaction had taken place. They said the documents presented by Olabode consisted of three receipts dated 2021, months before the vehicle allegedly disappeared in April 2022.
The lawyers questioned how the receipts could establish a legitimate purchase of the Rolls-Royce after its disappearance.
More significantly, they alleged that police officers insisted Obazuaye must refund the ₦30 million reportedly paid to Udubriah before they would release the recovered vehicle to him.
The businessman maintained that he had neither received the money nor authorised the sale of his car, describing the alleged demand as an attempt to make him pay for a transaction in which he was not involved.
The petition argued that the disputed payment claim should not have been made a condition for returning property recovered during a police investigation.
Zungura Denies Receiving Money, Challenges Businessman To Prove Allegation
When contacted by SaharaReporters, Zungura, who was a Deputy Commissioner of Police when the events in question occurred and has since become a Commissioner of Police, denied collecting money from anyone.
He directed the newspaper to obtain a certified copy of the case records from the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, saying the documents would provide details of the investigation and actions taken by the police.
“Yes, it’s all very simple now. I think records are there. They’ll give you everything. It’s better that way,” he said.
However, repeated efforts by SaharaReporters to obtain the records from the police authorities were unsuccessful.
Addressing the bribery allegation, Zungura challenged Obazuaye to provide evidence that he had collected money from the suspects or anyone acting on their behalf.
“I don’t know who gave me money, but it’s very simple. If somebody alleges you collect or give you bribe, let him just prove it. Either he gave you cash or through somebody or through account or whatever it means, let him just prove it.
“And that’s all. If he does not prove it, then it will be against him. I’m not leaving it like that.
“I will never collect anybody’s money. But let him just prove it,” Zungura told SaharaReporters.
While denying the bribery allegation, Zungura did not directly explain why the recovered Rolls-Royce was allegedly released to the individuals from whom it had been recovered. He also did not address the businessman’s claim that payment of the disputed ₦30 million was made a condition for the vehicle’s release.
Investigating Officer Confirms Handling Case From Beginning, Says It Was Transferred
SaharaReporters also contacted Abulde, the investigating officer who arrested Udubriah and Olabode in Lagos.
Abulde confirmed that he had first-hand knowledge of the case, saying he handled the investigation from the beginning until it was transferred following a request from the Inspector-General of Police’s office.
“I have the first-hand information about the case and I can be able to say a lot on it because I investigated the case from A to Z,” he said.
However, he declined to provide an official account of the investigation, explaining that he was required to comply with the police force’s media policy.
“I’m supposed to be directed to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department. I am not a public relations officer.
“So, whatever media policy, I have to abide by it. And I’m not allowed to be giving comments regarding any particular case I’m doing,” he said.
He directed the reporter to the appropriate police authority for further information and confirmed that the case had been transferred from his office after a request from the Inspector-General’s office.
“So, if there’s anything you want to know in detail, please direct your comment or questions, request for comment or other things to the Police spokesperson,” he said.
Officers Accused Of Taking Over Investigation And Releasing Vehicle
The petition also detailed Obazuaye’s concerns about the handling of the case after the initial investigation.
The solicitors said their client suspected possible connivance between the original investigating officer and the suspects, prompting him to submit another petition on November 13, 2023, to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police at FCID Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
The petition was submitted through the Anti-Fraud Unit by another solicitor, Charles A. Mgbajah, Esq., because Obazuaye was unable to travel to Nigeria due to his doctoral commitments abroad.
According to the lawyers, Zungura and Pikhomo subsequently instructed the Anti-Fraud Department to discontinue its ongoing investigation and transfer the matter to them.
They alleged that the officers later released the Rolls-Royce to the suspects without notifying Obazuaye or his representatives, despite the ownership documents he had presented and the earlier recovery of the vehicle.
When questioned about the release, the officers allegedly said a former Deputy Inspector-General identified only as “Frank” had verbally authorised it.
The solicitors said no written directive or formal order was provided to their client to establish that such authorisation had been given.
Suspect Allegedly Boasted Of Police Connections During Arrest
The petition further recounted an incident involving Olabode’s arrest in Lagos on June 1, 2025.
According to the solicitors, Olabode was arrested pursuant to a court-sanctioned warrant obtained under the supervision of CP Samaila B.A., who had reportedly resumed office and been briefed about the matter.
During the arrest, Olabode allegedly boasted that he owned the Nigeria Police Force and was untouchable because his friend was the brother of the Inspector-General of Police.
Obazuaye also alleged that Olabode placed a telephone call to Pikhomo on speakerphone during the arrest, allowing him to hear the officer advising the suspect.
The petition further claimed that Olabode repeatedly boasted that the Police Force was “in his pocket” and that he had allegedly paid officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police to Deputy Inspector-General.
He also reportedly claimed that a Deputy Inspector-General had given a verbal directive authorising the release of the Rolls-Royce.
SaharaReporters could not independently establish the truth of the statements attributed to Olabode or verify the alleged telephone conversation with Pikhomo.
Businessman Petitions Police Service Commission
Obazuaye reportedly petitioned the Police Service Commission on June 4, 2025, over the conduct of the officers. However, his solicitors said no formal outcome had been communicated to their client by the time the latest petition was prepared.
In the fresh petition to IGP Disu, the lawyers requested an independent investigation into the conduct of Zungura, Pikhomo and Abulde, as well as the roles allegedly played by Udubriah, Olabode and other individuals.
They also asked the Inspector-General to identify the former Deputy Inspector-General referred to as “Frank” and establish whether he authorised the release of the vehicle.
The solicitors demanded a review of police custody logs, official directives, correspondence and investigative records relating to the case. They further urged the police chief to recover and return the Rolls-Royce to their client and institute disciplinary or criminal proceedings against anyone found culpable.
Police Authorities, Former DIG Frank Mba Yet To Respond
SaharaReporters made several attempts to obtain official comments from the police authorities on the allegations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, could not be reached. His telephone line was unreachable, and he did not respond to a message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
The newspaper also contacted former Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba, whom the petitioner identified as the senior officer who initially ordered the release of the vehicle to him. Mba did not answer his telephone call or respond to a message sent to him.
Efforts to reach Pikhomo, Udubriah and Olabode for comments were also unsuccessful, as the calls were not answered.