General News
Law-Abiding Nigerian Demands Redress From Indian-Owned Firm After CNG Truck Nearly Kills Family
By Iyojo Ameh
A Nigerian author and father of three, Tochi Maduba Ejiofor, has called for urgent redress from Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO), an Indian-owned company, after a CNG truck allegedly belonging to the firm crashed into his car and left his family fighting for survival.
Ejiofor made the appeal in a statement detailing the August 1, 2026 incident, which occurred as he, his wife and their three children were returning to Abuja from Anambra State after the burial of his father-in-law.
According to him, the family was parked at an Army checkpoint in Kogi State, waiting to be cleared by soldiers, when a CNG truck with registration number FZE-431IA allegedly belonging to SEEPCO rammed into the rear of their Honda Accord 2018.
The impact, he said, was so severe that the family was thrown into the bush and became trapped inside the wreckage.
Ejiofor said the family was eventually rescued by people at the scene, describing the intervention of the ordinary Nigerians who came to their aid as a display of humanity that he believes has been lacking in the company’s response to the incident.
He said several personal belongings, including a laptop, phones, cash and other effects, were destroyed or went missing following the crash.
Beyond the trauma of the accident, Ejiofor said his family has continued to incur medical and other expenses, which he claims he has been paying personally.
He said the family members were still receiving treatment weeks after the crash as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
Complaint over release of truck, driver
Ejiofor also raised concerns over what he described as the unexplained release of the truck and its driver.
He alleged that while he was undergoing treatment, the company secured the release of the truck and driver from Orakam Police Station without his knowledge or consent.
His own damaged vehicle, he said, remained impounded at the station.
The development prompted him to instruct his lawyer to seek explanations from the police.
Ejiofor further claimed that company officials admitted liability shortly after the accident, acknowledging that their driver was reckless and at fault.
However, he said subsequent efforts to obtain compensation for his destroyed vehicle, medical expenses and other costs had been met with delays and what he described as dismissive treatment.
Appeal to company directors
Ejiofor is now appealing directly to the directors of Sterling Global Nigeria Ltd, expressing hope that the company’s top management may not have received the full account of what happened.
He urged them to intervene by replacing his destroyed vehicle, restoring his family’s damaged or missing property and settling the expenses incurred as a result of the crash.
The author stressed that his demand was not for confrontation but for justice through lawful means.
“I am prepared to pursue justice through every lawful channel available to me, for as long as it takes, whatever the cost,” he said.
Ejiofor maintained that his family had nearly lost their lives and that he would not remain silent while seeking accountability for what he described as the devastating consequences of the crash.
