₦15 Million Lawsuit Filed Against inDrive Nigeria After Rider Allegedly Vanishes with Customer’s Goods

A woman in Abuja has taken legal action against the popular ride-hailing and delivery platform, inDrive, accusing the company of negligence and breach of duty of care after one of its registered dispatch riders allegedly absconded with her goods. The case has reignited public debate over safety, accountability, and consumer protection within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital transport and logistics industry.

According to a pre-action notice dated Thursday, 30 September, 2025 the lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ms. Deborah Godfrey Bassey by Associate Counsel Piye Garuba of the Law Office of Chigbue & Chigbue. The legal document alleges that inDrive failed to provide adequate oversight and accountability for its registered rider, Chukwudi Chinemere Maduakor, whose alleged misconduct led to both financial loss and emotional distress for the client.

“We are solicitors to Ms. Deborah Godfrey Bassey (‘our client’), on whose behalf we issue this formal notice against your organisation, inDrive Nigeria, in respect of the negligent and irresponsible conduct of one of your registered dispatch riders,” part of the letter reads.

The letter further claims that the rider’s actions caused the loss of valuable property, embarrassment, and severe emotional trauma.

Ms. Bassey is demanding a written apology from inDrive and ₦15 million in general damages for alleged negligence, conversion, and breach of duty of care. The notice warns that legal proceedings will commence if the company fails to respond within seven days of 30 October 2025.

The Incident

The case, which has attracted growing attention online, reportedly began on 16 October 2025 when Ms. Bassey booked a dispatch service through the inDrive app to deliver items from No. 11 Turner Crescent, Wuye, to Gold City Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. The package contained a Burgundy Bone Straight wig valued at ₦450,000, two rings, a bowl of food, and two packs of biscuits, totalling approximately ₦800,000.

After agreeing on a fare of ₦2,700, the rider confirmed pickup via the app. However, minutes into the trip, he allegedly called to question whether the drop-off location was Lokogoma or Lugbe. When Ms. Bassey confirmed Lugbe, he reportedly responded, “Lugbe for ₦2,700? I’m not going again,” before abruptly ending the call. Shortly after, an in-app notification informed her that the rider had “driven off with the packages.”

Both Ms. Bassey and the sender were later blocked on all contact platforms, and multiple attempts to reach the rider or inDrive’s customer support were unsuccessful. According to the complaint, Ms. Bassey reached out to the company via her Instagram handle, @Ediyeeyenefik, but received no helpful response. With police involvement, the rider was eventually tracked to the Orozo area of Abuja and arrested though the missing items were never recovered.

The lawsuit accuses inDrive of failing to ensure adequate oversight of its riders, thereby exposing customers to undue safety risks and financial harm.

“Our client has suffered severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and inconvenience as a direct result of your platform’s failure to ensure safety and accountability,” the notice stated.

Previous Controversies

This is not the first time inDrive has faced scrutiny in Nigeria. Only weeks earlier, the company was entangled in a separate controversy in Lagos, where one of its drivers was accused of collaborating with thieves, an allegation the company denied following an internal investigation.

Broader Implications

The ₦15 million lawsuit now places inDrive under renewed public scrutiny, raising critical questions about user safety, corporate responsibility, and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s booming ride-hailing and logistics sector.