… agent who facilitated the fraudulent documentation, alongside the applicant, apprehended.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recovered a suspected Toyota Corolla, at the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) Desk Office, Nnewi, Anambra State.
The recovery followed a meticulous verification process triggered during an attempt to process proof of ownership documents on the NVIS portal.
Upon scrutiny, the chassis number initially presented raised suspicion, prompting further verification by the NVIS Officer, which ultimately revealed discrepancies linked to an already registered vehicle in the database.
Acting on professional instinct and adherence to standard procedures, the NVIS Officer requested for a physical confirmation of the chassis number from the vehicle body.
A thorough check on the NVIS portal exposed the true identity of the vehicle and its rightful owner, Mr. Onyechi Dickson Eze of Awka, Anambra State.
Subsequent contact with the owner confirmed that the vehicle had been forcefully taken from him during a kidnapping incident on the 23rd of January, 2023, after which he was abandoned while the vehicle was carted away.
Angel Network News (ANN) gathered that
in a swift inter-agency response, the Nigeria Police Force Area Command, Nnewi, was duly notified, leading to the immediate involvement of the State Criminal Investigation Bureau (SCIB).
Through a coordinated operation involving FRSC officials, the Police, and the Motor Licensing Authority (MLA) Ojoto, the agent who facilitated the fraudulent documentation, alongside the applicant, was apprehended.
The vehicle was successfully recovered on 4 April, 2026, and is currently in the custody of the SBI Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Area Command, Nnewi, for further investigation.
Preliminary findings revealed that the vehicle had undergone deliberate modifications in a bid to conceal its identity.
Notably, the original red colour had been altered to gray, while an unassigned number plate (NZM135AQ) was affixed to the vehicle—further confirming criminal intent and attempted system circumvention.
Despite these alterations, the robustness of the NVIS platform ensured that the vehicle’s true identity was uncovered without compromise.
