Published 12th Feb, 2025

By Sodeeq Atanda

Agbona Omowumi, a Nigerian based in Ghana, lost her job after Okoro Chinedu Joseph, a storekeeper at Young Shall Grow Motors, and African Eagle Multi Transport Services Ltd. failed to deliver a shipment to her.

Omowumi combined trading in hair styling material with her headmistress role at a private secondary school in Ghana.

She would collect money from customers in Ghana and send it to her parents in Ibadan, Oyo State, to help her shop for braiding items and other beauty goods.

In September, her parents bought items worth N398,000 and sent them to a friend in Lagos State to facilitate how they would be delivered to Ghana. This friend took it to Young Shall Grow Motors transport company’s park at Mazamaza in Lagos.

The friend met with Joseph, known as a pastor in the park, who acted as a storekeeper. He charged N110,000 for the shipment.

“My friend took it to their [Young Shall Grow Motors] park on September 17 and told me she gave it to Pastor Chinedu [Okoro Chinedu Joseph]. She then sent a receipt of payment to me. I waited several days without getting any call from the driver bringing the goods,” Omowumi told FIJ.

Omowumi would later find out that Joseph did not register the luggage with his company but with African Eagle Multi Transport Services Ltd., a different transport company with a terminal at Mazamaza.

On their way to Ghana, the driver of African Eagle ran into a problem with security operatives in Benin Republic and confiscated the bus. Since that month, the company has not resolved the problem.

Almost five months later, Omowumi is yet to get her shipment. Her customers who paid for different items have taken different actions against her, believing she duped them of their money.

One day, some customers reported her to a local police office in Ghana and she was arrested.

Evidence of the payment made to the storekeeper.

“Some of my customers reported to the police and they arrested me. At the police station, I had to call an official of African Eagle and put the phone on speaker for the customers and police to convince them that I did not dupe them,” said Omowumi.

“It became a big issue for me. I had to start refunding money to some of the customers for me to be at rest. Another customer also brought police officers to the school where I was working as a headmistress, shouting at me. I have lost good customers, relationships and some other things because of this problem.

“My explanation to the school owner failed to change her mind. She terminated my appointment. She said the issue was not good for the school’s image. I have been jobless since then.

“I travelled to Nigeria in December because of this issue but I could not find a solution. I am frustrated.”

On January 29, FIJ spoke with Joseph and he confirmed taking the luggage and the money.

“Our lawyers have been on the case. Even on January 27, they went to court. It was adjourned until February 9. We believe that by then the truck will be released so that everyone can get their shipments. She has been abusing me. She even brought a soldier to our office in December to create a scene. But I understand that it is her right to look for her property,” the storekeeper said.

Receipt of the items contained in the luggage.

“The agent we gave the work went ahead to make a serious mistake. Where he was supposed to pay official customs fees, he manoeuvered it and it backfired.”

When FIJ called him again on Wednesday, Joseph said the matter had not been resolved and that the court adjourned it until March 17.

FIJ also spoke with Joy, a customer service agent at the company, on Wednesday. She said the logistics company did not engage in inter-country services.

“Our logistics company only operate within Nigeria,” Joy said. “And when we receive a package, we normally issue a receipt confirming the transaction. The customer should liaise with the park’s management to resolve the issue,” Joy said.

African Eagle’s phone number was not connecting at press time. It also failed to respond to a follow-up text.

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