The Arewa Youths for Peace and Security has petitioned the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services over the alleged sale of a faulty vehicle to a female buyer in Abuja, urging the agency to sanction the dealer involved.
The group called on the DRTS to investigate the transaction and possibly revoke the dealership licence of FLO Automobile, which it accused of selling a defective Mazda vehicle to Princess Aisha Kabir Barau, granddaughter of the late Emir of Suleja, Niger State.
In the petition, the Secretary-General of the group, Comrade Salihu Dantata Mahmud, who described himself as a security analyst, urged the DRTS to exercise its regulatory authority by sealing the company’s car stand for allegedly selling defective vehicles to members of the public.
Mahmud said the directorate, through its Special Trade Licence division, was mandated to issue dealership licences and regulate automobile spare parts markets in the FCT, hence the need for urgent intervention.
He alleged that the dealership deliberately sold the faulty vehicle to the buyer for over N5m, stressing that substandard automobile companies must be flushed out of Abuja’s auto market to protect residents.
The petition followed a complaint letter dated January 28, 2026, written by Barau to the Arewa youths group, detailing her ordeal after purchasing the vehicle.
Barau stated that she bought a Mazda CX-7 (2006 model, Turbo) from FLO Automobile, represented by one Mr Oluwaseun, on December 14, 2025.
She explained that the transaction involved exchanging her Toyota Avalon 2005, valued at N2.1m, alongside an additional cash payment of N2.9m, bringing the total value of the deal to N5m.
According to her, the payment was made into an account bearing the name Musa Djmoore Mohammed.
The complainant said trouble began barely a month after the purchase when the vehicle developed serious mechanical faults around January 17, 2026.
She listed the defects to include weak engine performance, excessive fuel consumption, persistent smoke when the vehicle was idle, oil burning and severe loss of power whenever the air conditioner was switched on.
Barau said she later took the vehicle to an independent mechanic in Minna, identified simply as Madu, who allegedly confirmed that the engine was weak and likely had the problem before the sale.
She further alleged that when she reported the faults to the dealer, she was asked to wait indefinitely for the vehicle to be resold before any possible resolution, adding that her request for a refund or repairs was allegedly rejected.
Barau described the incident as financially and emotionally devastating, noting that the funds used to purchase the vehicle came from her business savings and personal efforts.
She added that the experience had left her distressed and fearful of driving the vehicle, which she claimed had disrupted her daily activities.
The petitioner appealed for justice, stating her readiness to present proof of payment, communication records with the dealer, voice notes and mechanic verification to support her claims.
Efforts to obtain a response from FLO Automobile and the FCT DRTS as of press time were unsuccessful.
