Lagos CJ urged to investigate alleged discrepancies in car auction sale

The Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba has been petitioned to intervene and investigate the alleged discrepancies in the sales by auction of a Toyota Corolla on December 19, 2021 by the Deputy Sheriff of the court.

Claimant and Judgment Creditor in a petition dated July 27, 2021 regarding suit no MCL/87 3/2013 between Abiodun Akinkoye Odunayo and Mr. Jude Ator urged the CJ to investigate the alleged manipulation of proceeds of the sales in public auction of the car by the Deputy Sheriff.

According to Mrs Odunayo, the Toyota Corolla car was a subject of an execution levied in her favour on December 19, 2017, attached and taken to court premises.

According to her, the car was neither vandalised nor destroyed at the court premises, where it was parked during the EndSARS protest, but remained intact.

The petitioner said, she participated in the public auction for the sale of the car and made a bid up to N1.2m, while another person bid N2.7million.

According to her, the Deputy Sheriff, surprisingly informed her afterwards that the final offer from the highest bidder stood at N552, 000.

“I witnessed the public auction together with others,” she insisted. She claimed that after the sales, the Deputy Sheriff, in a letter informed her that, “a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. BDG 602 EC was sold by public auction to the highest bidder in the sum of N525, 000.  The only amount recoverable by the Claimant/Judgment Creditor stands at N525, 000 less the government deductions.”

She maintained that the amount stated was contrary to the amount the highest bid for the car. To this end, she is demanding that justice must prevail by paying her the exact amount realised from the sale of the Toyota Corolla 2005 model.

The petitioner said that her petition dated November 30,2021 to the Chief Judge, which was received by the office was not replied three months after.

“It is pertinent to know my lord that I have waited for about three months, since I submitted my petition and I am yet to be contacted or informed of any development in respect of the petition, copy of which is hereby attached for your Lordship’s quick reference and necessary action.

“Waiting patiently for my lord’s intervention in this matter of open fraud that someone thinks can be swept under the carpet,” the petitioner stated.

However, in a letter signed by acting Chief Register, Mr. T. A. Elias, dated March 15, 2022 in response to her petition, the letter stated that the CJ acknowledged receipt of her letters dated November 30, 2021 and March 1, 2022 in respect of the subject matter. According to the response, her petition was not successful.

“A discreet investigation of your petition was conducted and no wrongdoing has been found on the side of the Lagos State Judiciary and its appointed Auctioneer.

“You are free to furnish any proof of your allegation, if you so wish. Accordingly, the petition is unsuccessful,” the letter reads.