The vehicle was impounded after seven solar panels were discovered to have cracked during offloading, triggering a standoff over liability and payment.
A dispute over damaged solar panels has deepened in Abia State, with two logistics workers alleging that they have now spent about three weeks stranded at a private residence after completing a delivery, as negotiations to resolve the matter remain stalled.
The workers, a driver and his assistant, say they have been held since December 28, 2025, at the Bende residence of Chief Martin Mbaka, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Quietstorm Group, following the seizure of the delivery vehicle they operated.
The vehicle was impounded after seven solar panels were discovered to have cracked during offloading, triggering a standoff over liability and payment.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, on Wednesday, one of the workers, who identified himself simply as Michael, said the prolonged delay has been worsened by a failed attempt to locate the contractor who hired them in Lagos.
“The cousin of Chief Mbaka, who initially contacted the man that gave us the job, has been in Lagos for the past four days trying to locate him,” Michael said. “Unfortunately, he has not been able to reach him. He was later told that the man is currently in his village.”
Michael explained that the development has effectively stalled all discussions.
“As a result, the Chief said we cannot go until his cousin, Mr. Uzor, is able to see the man,” he said. “But Mr. Uzor is still in Lagos waiting for him to return from the village, and there is no certainty as to when that will happen.”
According to the workers, the vehicle, which they say belongs to Dr. Adeleke Oshin, remains impounded inside the compound, while they continue to sleep inside it under harsh conditions since they cannot leave the vehicle behind.
“Since December 28, we have been sleeping inside the vehicle with mosquitoes,” Michael said. “They locked the gate, deflated our tyres and collected our keys. We’ve been begging them, explaining that we don’t know what happened between him and the person who hired us, but they said we will not leave with the vehicle.”
Michael said they were hired at Iddo Park, Oyingbo, Lagos, to transport solar panels, batteries, foodstuffs and other items to Abia State. He insisted the transporters were not responsible for loading the goods.
“While loading the solar panels, we noticed that some already had cracks,” he said. “We asked the man who hired us if the owner knew about it, and he said yes. We are transporters; we don’t load or offload goods ourselves.”
He added that the cracked panels were identified during offloading and set aside.
“There were about seven cracked panels out of 60,” Michael said. “After unloading, they locked the gate and told us we cannot go until we pay for the damaged panels.”
He maintained that the damage did not occur during transit.
“This is not our fault,” he said. “Even the sender accepted that it was his fault, but they still refused to let us go. They said even if God comes down to beg, they will not release the vehicle.”
When contacted, Chief Mbaka confirmed that the vehicle would not be released until the issue of the damaged panels is resolved.
“I’m not going to release the vehicle until the damaged solar panels are replaced,” he said.
His Personal Assistant, Mr. Franklin Azubuike, offered a detailed defence of his employer’s position, accusing the transporters of mishandling fragile equipment.
“My boss purchased solar panels and batteries worth close to N40 million through his cousin in Lagos,” Azubuike said. “This man presented himself as a transporter with fleets of vehicles that deliver nationwide.”
According to him, the transporters overloaded the vehicle.
“We rented his vehicle completely because solar panels are sensitive,” Azubuike said. “But he loaded cartons of wine, foodstuffs and other heavy items on top of fragile panels. That is how seven panels were broken.”
Azubuike said the damaged panels were valued at over N1 million, but that Chief Mbaka was demanding N840,000 after discounts.
“He sent pictures of only two cracked panels before delivery,” Azubuike added. “So how do you explain seven broken ones? It’s clear that excess luggage caused the damage.”
He also said the matter had been reported to the police and that senior officers in Lagos were aware of the dispute.
“This is not a child’s play,” Azubuike said. “Until he pays N840,000 and provides the waybill for replacement, we are not discussing anything.”
At press time, the workers reported they were still stranded in Abia State, over 20 days after delivering the consignment.