A resident of Fountain of Life Estate in Ikorodu, Lagos, has accused a serving officer of the Nigeria Customs Service of misrepresenting the status of a vehicle sold to him, an allegation that has since generated concern within the community.
The complainant, whose name is being withheld, alleged that Ibikunle Adewale Fafure collected ₦12 million for a 2013 Toyota Highlander, described as a “tokunbo” vehicle, auctioned by Customs. However, the buyer later discovered that the car had previously been registered and used in Nigeria.
A transaction built on trust
According to the complainant, the issue began on May 15, 2025, when his wife saw Mr Fafure driving the Highlander into the estate. Later that day, the family visited Mr Fafure’s residence to inspect the vehicle. During negotiations, the officer reportedly assured them repeatedly that the car was a foreign-used vehicle impounded by Customs in 2015 and subsequently acquired by him through an auction process.
The buyer said the assurances were convincing, particularly because both families had lived as neighbours for years and shared cordial relations. Their children attended the same primary school, and the family attended events together, creating what the complainant described as a relationship built on trust.
After requesting time to raise funds, the buyer said he paid the agreed ₦12 million in three instalments. One of the payments was reportedly made on May 29, 2025, after both men met briefly at the Abuja airport while the complainant was on an official assignment.
Discovery at the licensing office
The vehicle was delivered on July 1, 2025. The following day, the complainant visited the Vehicle Licensing Centre in Ikorodu to begin registration using documents provided by Mr. Fafure, which were presented as Customs papers.
However, on July 4, officials at the licensing office reportedly informed the buyer that the vehicle had already been registered in Nigeria. According to the complainant, a VIN check confirmed that the Highlander was not a tokunbo vehicle and that its previous registration had expired approximately six months earlier.
The complainant said this discovery amounted to a serious breach of trust, as the agreement was strictly for a foreign-used vehicle. He added that despite further discussions, he and his wife rejected the car on the grounds of false declaration and misrepresentation.
Several promise of refund unkept
On July 6, 2025, Mr. Fafure reportedly retrieved the vehicle from the buyer’s residence and promised to refund the full amount. The complainant stated that the officer initially pledged to pay in July, later shifting the timeline to the end of August, and thereafter, he has been avoiding making a commitment to a specific payment date.
Despite repeated follow-ups through calls and messages, no refund has been made, the complainant alleged. He added that communication eventually broke down in September, leaving his family financially stranded and unable to purchase another vehicle.
This warranted a formal complaint and the Customs Police, Ikeja, Lagos, in September 2025, and he was detained for four working days (Monday, 22nd to Thursday, 25th). “But when I realised that he might lose his job in the process, I had to start begging for him to be released after he promised to pay me back by October. But immediately he was released, he evades my calls, nor does he respond to my messages,” the complainant recounted.
Officer’s response
When contacted by News Hub Mag, Mr. Fafure did not directly answer questions on whether the car was fraudulently sold as tokunbo. Instead, he acknowledged owing the complainant money and appealed for patience after six months.
He recently graduated from a three-month junior course at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, Abuja on December 12 which he said had delayed repayment. He insisted there was no written agreement because the transaction was between neighbours and expressed concern that public discussion of the matter could damage his career and family life.
Mr. Fafure did not deny collecting the money and said he has assured the complainant of a refund once his training is concluded and it is a week after the completion of the training.
The complainant said, “Mr Fafure has always been avoiding being committed to the date of payment and it cannot continue forever because his family is badly impacted by this unfunded money.”
Call for Resolution
The complainant said his sole request is the full repayment of the ₦12 million, noting that the prolonged dispute has caused emotional and financial distress to his family. He expressed hope that anti-graft agencies of government will step into the matter and he retrieve this hard-earned money and in a manner that reflects fairness and accountability.
Culled from News Hub Mag
