Lagos auto dealer arraigned for diverting N42m from car sales

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Chukwuka Samuel Onovo before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over the alleged theft of N42 million.

Onovo was arraigned on Thursday, July 31, 2025, on a one-count charge of stealing proceeds from the sale of four imported vehicles belonging to a petitioner, identified as Cajetan Alinnor.

According to the petitioner, Onovo presented himself as an auto dealer in 2022 and was entrusted with four vehicles to facilitate their sale: a 2009 Toyota Highlander SUV, a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300, a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300, and a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300.

The agreement reportedly stipulated that Onovo must seek the petitioner’s consent before finalising any transaction and that all payments from buyers were to be made directly to the petitioner, who would then pay Onovo his commission.

However, Onovo allegedly failed to sell the vehicles for over a year and became evasive when questioned about their whereabouts. Subsequent investigations revealed that he had sold all four vehicles without notifying the owner and diverted the entire proceeds, amounting to N42 million, towards building a duplex at 42 John Okorie Street, off Wilmer Crescent, Olodi-Apapa, in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos, where he reportedly resides with his wife.

The charge against him reads:
“That you, Chukwuka Samuel Onovo, sometime between January and December 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with dishonest intent, stole and converted to your own use the sum of N42,000,000. (forty-two million naira), being proceeds from the sale of four vehicles belonging to Cajetan Alinnor, thereby committing an offence of stealing contrary to and punishable under Sections 280 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Onovo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, prosecuting counsel A.A. Usman requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.

Justice Dada ordered Onovo’s remand at a correctional centre and adjourned the case until October 30, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

Lagos auto dealer arraigned for diverting N42m from car sales