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 July 27, 2021 by the Deputy Sheriff of the court.
Claimant and Judgement Creditor in a petition dated November 30, 2021 regarding the suit no MCL/87 3/2013 between Abiodun Akinkoye Odunayo and Mr. Jude Ator urged the Chief Judge to investigate the alleged manipulations of proceed of sales in public auction of the car by the Deputy Sheriff.
According to Mrs Odunayo, the car auctioned by the Deputy Sheriff was a subject of an execution in the suit on the 19th day of December, 2017 where a Toyota Corolla was attached and taken to court premises.
According to her, in spite of the turmoil during the ENDSARS protest, the car was spared in the court premises where it was packed and remained attractive to the general public.
Given her account, the petitioner said, she participated in the public auction of the car and bidded up to N1.2m for her to purchase the car, but there was another bidder, who bidded for N2.7million, but to her chargrin, the Deputy Sheriff only informed her, the final offer from the highest bidder stood at N525,000.00.
She said, “On resumption of normal court activities after various lockdown of the courts, I made several efforts to list the car subject matter of this complaint (Toyota Corolla 2005 model car) for sale. Including a letter from my lawyer to the Honourable Chief Judge.”
She further stated she was informed that the chief judge has giving approval for the sales of the car along with other items.
“I was made to obtain a form for N3,000 to enable me participate in the process of the sales with a tag No.15 and the sales was fixed for 27th July, 2021.
“The public auction witnessed by me and other people and not the imaginary public auction that sold at exact amount approved by the Honourable Chief Judge.”
After the sales, the Deputy Sheriff, Mrs. Abimbola Oshodi-Makanju, Head of Deputy Sheriff in a letter informed her that, “a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. BDG 602 EC (Grey Colour), was sold by public auction to the highest bidder in the sum of N525,000.00.
“The only amount recoverable by the Claimant/Judgment Creditor stands at N525,000.00 less the government deductions.”
She said the amount stated was contrary to the amount the highest bidder bidded for the car
To this end she is demanding that “justice must prevail by paying me the correct proceed of sales of the Toyota Corolla 2005 model.”
Justifying an under deal probably from the highest quarter, the petitioner noted that her petition to the Chief Judge received with stamp confirming the date, it was submitted suffered delay.
“It is pertinent to know my Lord that I have waited for about three months now. 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 it can be swept under the carpet.”
In a letter signed by Acting Chief Register, Mr. T. A. Elias dated March 15, 2022 replying to her petition, stated that the chief judge acknowledged receipt of her letters; dated 30th November 2021 and 1st March 2022 in respect of the subject matter.
The letter said that her petition was not successful. ” A discreet investigation of your petition, no wrong doing 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 wishes. Accordingly, the petition is unsuccessful.
