•The suspect, Ibrahim Garba
An Abuja businessman and Managing Director of Wakaso Car Ltd., Ibrahim Garba, was yesterday arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, over allegations that he falsely reported a fellow businessman’s vehicle as stolen, leading to a police intervention.
Garba, whose company is located at Royal Park Garden, Wuse, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him, reports Daily Independent.
The prosecution, led by Simeon Wujat, told the court that the matter was reported by the complainant, Shehu Abdullahi, on June 24, 2026.
According to the prosecutor, the incident occurred on June 17 when Abdullahi parked his Honda Civic in front of his business premises within the same complex.
Wujat told the court that at about 8:04 p.m. on the day of the incident, the complainant was surprised to find a team of armed police officers accompanied by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with a towing vehicle attempting to impound his car.
He said that when Abdullahi sought an explanation, the team leader informed him that the defendant had reported the vehicle to the police as a stolen car.
“The complainant was embarrassed and was made to write a statement in respect of his own vehicle, which was maliciously reported and declared by the defendant as a stolen vehicle,” the prosecutor submitted.
Wujat further informed the court that the complainant subsequently presented a Certified True Copy of the vehicle’s documents, alongside proof of ownership and registration particulars, at the police station on the same day.
He said police investigations later established that the information supplied by the defendant was false.
“Upon careful investigation by the Police, it was found out that the defendant intentionally and spitefully gave the Police false information about the car,” the prosecutor told the court.
According to him, the alleged false report exposed the complainant to public ridicule and damaged his reputation within and outside his business environment.
He alleged that the defendant’s actions portrayed the complainant as “a car thief” and unjustly cast him as a criminal, thereby tarnishing what he described as his “unassailable good reputation and goodwill.”
The prosecution said the alleged offence contravenes Section 391 and is punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
Following the defendant’s plea of not guilty, defence counsel, Hamza Dantani, applied for bail, relying on Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Faridah Ibrahim admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N3 million with one surety in like sum.
The court directed that the surety, who must be a legal practitioner, should submit a valid Call-to-Bar certificate and execute a written undertaking to produce the defendant whenever required by the court.
The magistrate further warned that the defence counsel could face disciplinary proceedings should he fail to produce the defendant in court when required.
The case was adjourned to a later date for the commencement of hearing.
