In a case highlighting alleged police misconduct, Mr. Matthew Oboro, a commercial driver from Ethiope East Local Government Area in Delta State, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of converting his stolen vehicle into a patrol car and subsequently defying a court order mandating compensation.
In 2015, while attending a church service along Jakpa Road in Effurun, Oboro's Volkswagen Jetta was stolen. He promptly reported the incident to the Ekpan Police Station, hoping for swift action. Approximately a year later, during a trip to Sapele, Oboro was astonished to spot his vehicle in active use by the police, now emblazoned with "Operation Ekpan Area" on its sides. Approaching the officers, he was directed back to the Ekpan Police Station, where he learned that his car had been recovered in 2016 but was repurposed as a patrol vehicle without his knowledge. To reclaim his vehicle, Oboro was informed he would need to pay N150,000 to cover maintenance expenses incurred by the police.
Challenging this demand, Oboro pursued legal action. In July 2018, Justice Oke Okevowhen of the Warri High Court ruled in Oboro's favor, ordering the Nigeria Police Force to return the vehicle and pay N10 million in damages for infringing on his fundamental human rights. Despite this judgment, the police neither complied with the order nor appeared for subsequent appeal hearings at the Appeal Court in Benin.
This incident underscores ongoing concerns about accountability within the Nigeria Police Force. While the NPF has reported successes in recovering stolen vehicles and apprehending suspects, individual cases like Oboro's highlight systemic issues that demand attention. Oboro continues to seek public support, urging authorities to enforce the court's decision and address the alleged misconduct.
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