Abuja police arrested a driver using a fake Presidency number plate on a luxury Lexus SUV while pretending to be a top government official.
Police officers working under the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested a male driver in a high-end Lexus LX570 luxury vehicle for using a fake Presidency number plate to drive around the nation’s capital.
The driver was caught by police officers who were doing stop-and-search work around eight o’clock at night on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in the Maitama District area of Abuja.
Security agents noticed that the luxury vehicle had a hidden plate registration meant to confuse security officials and make the car look like an official government vehicle carrying top political leaders from Aso Rock.
When police officers stopped the luxury car to check its official vehicle papers, they saw that the number plate carried the inscription “PRESIDENCY” along with the official registration number 10B218 FG.
The driver told police officers that he was the real owner of the government number plate and claimed that he was a senior government official working for the nation’s leadership.
However, after taking the driver and the vehicle to the police station for a thorough investigation, police officers discovered that all the registration papers he presented were fake and forged to trick security agents on the road.
Releasing an official statement on behalf of the police command, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT, Superintendent of Police Josephine Adeh, confirmed that the driver was lying about his real identity to enjoy free movement and respect on the road.
Explaining how the driver tried to trick security officers and what police officers found out during the investigation, SP Josephine Adeh stated: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the concealed number plate bore the inscription ‘PRESIDENCY’ alongside registration number 10B218 FG. The suspect claimed to be the legitimate holder of the number plate, prompting further investigations into the authenticity of the documents supporting the claim. However, the investigations revealed that the registration documents associated with the number plate were forged and that the suspect was allegedly impersonating a Permanent Secretary attached to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
Security officers immediately seized the big Lexus vehicle and locked up the driver in police custody as investigators prepare official court papers to charge him for forgery and impersonation.
Confirming that the driver will face the law in a court of law as soon as police finish their work, SP Josephine Adeh added: “The vehicle and its occupant were promptly arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution.”
The police spokesperson urged all residents living in the Federal Capital Territory to follow the law, obey police officers on duty, and report any person driving around with suspicious government numbers or fake identity cards.
Police officials also reminded members of the public that using fake government numbers to escape police checks or intimidate other drivers on the road is a serious crime that carries severe jail punishment. The suspect will be taken to court as soon as the police conclude their investigations.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
