In 2020, when Sequoia Solutions and Innovations Limited, an Abuja-based firm, needed to purchase new vehicles for one of its clients, an associate recommended Mujaf Automobiles Limited to its staff.

Sequoia subsequently decided to reach out to the car dealing company in November of the same year and at the end of negotiations, Mujaf agreed to sell two new 2019 Toyota Hilux vehicles to its latest customer at the rate of N35 million.

“In November 2020, we ordered for two Toyota Hilux vehicles. It was for the Delta Agro-Industrial Park Project which were contracted to us. I represented Sequoia on that project,” Andrew Ogboro, a Sequoia staff member, told FIJ.

“In the process, we met with one Mr. Adeyemi, one of the agents of Mujaf Automobiles. After negotiations, Adeyemi agreed to supply those vehicles at a cost of ₦17.5 million each to us. Sequoia wanted two units, making it ₦35 million. In addition to the N35 million cost price, we paid another ₦2 million to Mujaf so that the vehicles could be delivered to Asaba, Delta State, where they were needed.”

READ ALSO: After FIJ’s Intervention Laos Police Release Detainee and His Vehicle

Three months later, after Sequoia had taken possession of the vehicles, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) impounded one of them. The customs service claimed that the import duty documents Mujaf had presented to Sequoia on the vehicle were fake.

However, after impounding the vehicle, and despite the explanation offered to them by Sequoia officials, the NCS officers did not visit Mujaf for further investigation.

“Our clients were stopped by customs around Benin, Edo State in February 2021. The vehicle was impounded based on the fact that they said the car was smuggled into Nigeria with fake customs papers,” Ogboro said.

“We tried and made frantic efforts to remedy the situation but failed. The police were invited in, they investigated and concluded that that the duty papers were forged and that the vehicle was smuggled.” 

When Sequoia contacted Mujaf Automobiles, the car sales company promised ‘to get things sorted out’.

However, after several weeks, it became clear that Mujaf was not ready to proffer a solution to the issue as promised.

The company’s inaction would force Sequoia to report the incident to the police at Wuse Zone 5 X Force, the police department in charge of smuggling.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Smugglers Shoot Customs Officers, Soldier During Failed Operation

“Now, the customs did not investigate or do anything about it as it relates to the company involved. The police, who also promised to prosecute Mojaf, have also been calling us to come and ‘pay for the court process,'” Ogboro revealed.

The customs office in Lagos also told Sequoia that there was nothing they could do about the seized vehicle.

“Police carried out an investigation on the issue and submitted a report in October 2021. In the report, the police admitted that Mujaf Motors ought to be prosecuted for smuggling. They also raised a question on why the customs were not interested in investigating the case,” Ogboro said.

“The police later transferred the case from their investigative department to their legal department. The legal department was also asking us to bring money for them to take the case to court.”

READ ALSO: FAAN, Customs Fight On Twitter Over Security Breach At Lagos Airport

FIJ made several phone calls to the customs office at Tincan Island, Apapa, but they were not answered. An email sent to them had also not received any response at press time.

When FIJ called Abubakar Ibrahim, the Managing Director of Mujaf, he asked that a call be put through to him again at a later time.

“I cannot remember walahi, I am in Saudi Arabia,” Ibrahim said. “We are about to enter the mosque. I don’t have much time to discuss. If you call me again, you might not be able to reach me. Wait till 4:30pm Nigerian time and try to reach me then.”

When FIJ called Ibrahim a second time, he was no longer reachable. A text message sent to him had also not been responded to as of press time.

“We have lost a vehicle and have written to Mujaf Motors. Till we speak, they have done nothing on the issue. They have also been going about their usual business as if nothing has happened,” Ogboro said.

“We approached them thinking they are into legitimate business. We did not know they are also into smuggling.”