FCTA reveals hub for counterfeit car papers, takes down market

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has destroyed a mini-market in Abuja’s Mabushi neighbourhood where it was possible to fabricate vehicle registration certificates and other important paperwork.

The market was destroyed on Wednesday in response to allegations of illegal activity. It was claimed that dishonest vendors, whose specialty was working with certain government employees to fabricate fake licence plates and vehicle documentation, had infiltrated the market, which was close to the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).

The demolition occurred as a result of several intelligence reports exposing illicit activity within the market, according to Dr. Abdulatef Bello, Director of DRTS.

Bello voiced worries for the safety of drivers and locals due to the possible security risks caused by the thieves’ actions, while showing seized fake car documents and licence plates at the destroyed market.

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Over time, we have been working to find a way to stop them, but today fate caught up with them, bringing down this building or structure. In the process, we were able to find numerous documents that the thieves had stolen.

As we attempt to implement e-enforcement, some of these vehicles that are registered with fictitious documents will be very challenging for us to track because the camera will identify them, but because they are not registered, it will be difficult for us to track, and these are the kinds of vehicles they use for criminal activities in territory. This is why security is as important as revenue loss.

Barrister Alexandre Owobi, claiming to be the manager of the space that was demolished, stated that insufficient warning was given prior to the demolition taking place.

He denied knowing about the illegal activity going on there.