MrOposter:
Forgive the length of my write up .

During the festive season, I journeyed home, leaving a spare key somewhere in the compound and snapping a photo of its location. A couple of weeks later, while still in my hometown, my younger brother phoned, expressing a desire to spend some time at my place. I promptly sent him the photos I'd taken earlier.

Upon getting to my door he discovered the padlock looked tampered with, as if someone had struck it. Despite this, he managed to open it, only to find my solar system missing—three panels from the roof, the inverter, and the battery from inside. Additionally, my Home Theatre system was gone. He wasted no time informing me.

Returning the next day, I began investigating. A neighbor mentioned seeing three new solar panels on a nearby roof. Following up on the lead, I confronted the owner, who happened to be a friend of my youngest brother (not my immediate sibling). He welcomed me warmly, but when I questioned him about the solar system, he claimed my brother had sold it to him, citing an urgent need for money due to a village matter. I vehemently denied this, asserting my brother took it without consent.

The friend disclosed that my brother sold him the system for a PlayStation 3 console valued at 100k and 35k cash, with an outstanding balance of 105k, totaling 240k. However, I had purchased the entire solar system for 400k back in 2019, including installation fees. The current value of a similar setup is around 600k.

He pleaded for time to retrieve the system, promising to return it within two hours after arranging a ladder and an electrician. Reluctantly, I agreed but returned three hours later to find the panels still on his roof, with no intention of return. Confronting him again, he directed me to speak with his mother, who claimed to be the buyer.

Taking the phone, his mother insisted that she purchased it from my brother and demanded a refund before returning the solar system. I informed my parents, who joined me at the location. After prolonged back and forth with the buyer's family, we filed a complaint at the nearest police station.

The following morning, accompanied by two police officers, we revisited the house. However, we were met with resistance from the entire family, including the father, mother (now claiming to be the buyer), brother, sister, and sister's husband, a FRSC Officer. They refused to cooperate without my brother's presence.

Despite this, the police managed to retrieve the inverter and battery, with plans to retrieve the panels later. Presently, the mother is in custody, and legal proceedings are underway. The solar system, excluding the panels, remains in police custody.

My question is:

Don't I have the right to collect back my solar system despite that my brother was the one who stole it from my apartment and sold it to them while I was away? Will the law help me recover my solar system and prosecute the buyer? Why can't the buyer conduct due diligence before buying a massively discounted solar system?

My younger brother is at large and all calls placed to him is not reachable Pls
advice accordingly. Thanks

Johilo:
You and ur bro "F" big time.... u should refund their money to them first before u get ur stuffs back.. and u just left ur useless so called brother out of this which is not good. kudos to the buyer's mum who stood against what u wanted to achieve.. guy think of refunding their money first

motionarena:


Have you confirmed from thief brother what really happened

donproject2:
You lack good sense of judgement bro...

motionarena:


Have you confirmed from thief brother what really happened

Nicepoker:
Go
back and read again. This time slowly

motionarena:


Seems you want to meet your end?

motionarena:


Seems you want to meet your end?

SUPERPACK:
This is tricky. I won't blame the buyer too as they bought it based on trust that your brother was acting on your behalf.

Johilo:
You and ur bro "F" big time.... u should refund their money to them first before u get ur stuffs back.. and u just left ur useless so called brother out of this which is not good. kudos to the buyer's mum who stood against what u wanted to achieve.. guy think of refunding their money first

marsup:
They bought a stolen property.
Your brother will be arrested as well, and the case charged to court.

If they want to settle out of court, they will bail themselves out and return the stolen property.

That should be the Nigerian way.

MrOposter:
They should have called me to confirm that I truly wanted to sell it. Selling a solar system for half of what I bought it should be an alarm bell.

tnerro1:
Give them their money back and collect ur stuff, if you collect ur stuff without paying them back, then anything that ur brother see, make him take am. Cause if na me, I go bleed the bastard when I catch am

SUPERPACK:
This is tricky. I won't blame the buyer too as they bought it based on trust that your brother was acting on your behalf.

MrOposter:
Forgive the length of my write up .

During the festive season, I journeyed home, leaving a spare key somewhere in the compound and snapping a photo of its location. A couple of weeks later, while still in my hometown, my younger brother phoned, expressing a desire to spend some time at my place. I promptly sent him the photos I'd taken earlier.

Upon getting to my door he discovered the padlock looked tampered with, as if someone had struck it. Despite this, he managed to open it, only to find my solar system missing—three panels from the roof, the inverter, and the battery from inside. Additionally, my Home Theatre system was gone. He wasted no time informing me.


My question is:

Don't I have the right to collect back my solar system despite that my brother was the one who stole it from my apartment and sold it to them while I was away? Will the law help me recover my solar system and prosecute the buyer? Why can't the buyer conduct due diligence before buying a massively discounted solar system?

My younger brother is at large and all calls placed to him is not reachable Pls advice accordingly. Thanks

jmoore:

Buying stolen goods is a crime. The op owes them nothing.