inDrive, a ride-hailing company, has been sued for negligence and breach of duty of care by a passenger in FCT Abuja, who allegedly suffered distress and financial damages from one of its dispatch riders. The development is the second time within weeks that the company has been dragged into the social media spotlight.
A Pre-action notice/Letter of demand filed on Thursday, September 30, by the Associate Counsel for LAW OFFICE OF CHIGBUE & CHIGBUE, Esq. Piye Garuba stated that the suit is filed for its client, Ms Deborah Godfrey Bassey. It explained that Deborah suffered emotional trauma and financial damage owing to a breach of trust and negligence of duty orchestrated by an inDrive’s dispatch rider, Chukwudi Chinemere Madaukor.
“We are solicitors to Ms. Deborah Godfrey Bassey (“our client”), on whose behalf we issue this formal notice against your organization, InDrive Nigeria, in respect of the negligent and irresponsible conduct of one of your registered dispatch riders, by name CHUKWUDI CHINEMERE MADUAKOR (07068817194), which resulted in the loss of our client’s valuable items, emotional trauma, and financial damage,” part of the suit reads.
According to the suit, uploaded on Ms Deborah’s X page and seen by Technext, the inDrive dispatch rider, Mr Chukwudi, deviated from the agreed delivery destination, breached his duty, and absconded with the valuable items intended for Ms Deborah. The suit added that the lost packages, estimated to be worth N800,000, have caused Ms Deborah emotional distress, embarrassment and inconvenience.
“The suit shall include claims for negligence, breach of duty of care, conversion, and general and exemplary damages,” it reads.
In the request for damages, the suit is demanding that inDrive tender a written apology on behalf of the rider, and pay a sum of N15 million for general damages for the loss, trauma, and mental anguish occasioned by inDrive’s negligence and poor service.
Provided the requests are not fulfilled by inDrive within 7 days from Oct 30, the suit stated that a civil action will be taken against the company without further notice.
Also Read: Robbery allegation: inDrive restores account of driver after confirming not guilty.
What transpired between the inDrive dispatch rider and Ms Deborah
According to the Pre-action letter, Ms Deborah used the inDrive App to order a delivery from No. 11 Turner Crescent, Wuye to Gold City Estate, Lugbe, Abuja on 16th of October, 2025.
The dispatched items include one Burgundy Bone Straight Wig worth N450,000, one food bowl containing stew, two rings (one gold and one fashion ring), and two packs of biscuits.
While the agreed delivery fare on the inDrive app was N2,400, the dispatch rider bid for N2,700, stating the destination was a bit far. The suit noted that Ms Deborah agreed to this, while the rider confirmed pickup through the inDrive’s App and indicated he was en route to the delivery address.
Meanwhile, he called back to ask if the drop-off point was Lokogoma or Lugbe despite initially confirming the destination for the packages. The suit noted that Ms Deborah responded and said Lugbe in line with the agreed destination.
“He then went ahead to say “Lugbe for 2,700 I am not going again”. Our client furthered asked him to handover the package back to the sender and immediately called the sender to inform her that the rider was not going again, had canceled the ride and to that the sender should collect the package from him,” the suit added.
However, the sender was unable to catch up with the driver as she saw the inscription that “your dispatch rider had driven off with the packages”.
The suit explained that the inDrive rider, since then, was unreachable, ceased all communication, blocked Ms Deborah and the sender on all channels, and absconded with the package.
What happened later on
During that time, it was stated that Ms Deborah reached out to inDrive on that day via Instagram through her Instagram handle @Ediyeeyenefik. But until the time the suit was filed, no positive feedback had been given to her by the ride-hailing company.
Meanwhile, Ms Deborah made an effort to track the rider with the help of the state Police, which was successful. According to the suit, the inDrive rider was tracked to Orozo axis of Abuja, where he was reportedly apprehended.
With demands of a written apology, the suit is demanding compensation of N15 million from inDrive, stating that Ms Deborah suffered distress, financial damages and emotional loss during the process.
“Our client has suffered severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and inconvenience as a direct result of your platform’s failure to ensure safety, accountability, and supervision of your registered riders,” it reads.
As of the time of this report, inDrive has yet to issue an official statement on the issue nor make any public notice on the suit.
Recall that two weeks ago, the company restored the account of its driver, Mr James Oluwatosin, who was at the centre of a robbery conspiracy allegation made by a passenger. This comes amid a viral post across various social media platforms and tensions over the veracity of the allegations.
inDrive affirmed that after reviewing the passenger’s statement, it found no clear evidence that supports the accusations and declared Mr Oluwatosin not guilty.
