The Lagos State chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has leveled serious allegations against the e-mobility firm Moove, accusing it of illegally arresting, torturing, and detaining two drivers who challenged the company’s misuse of power. This claim was made public through a formal complaint submitted by the state council chairman, Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez.
According to the union’s statement, the drivers-Moses Ameh and Byang Zakka-were apprehended by officers from the Bar Beach police station following requests from Moove representatives. The drivers were reportedly subjected to physical abuse and coerced into signing pre-written confessions before being transferred to the Ikoyi correctional facility, where they were held for an entire month without proper legal procedures.
“The arrests of these two drivers were conducted unlawfully at Bar Beach Police Station, with no notification of the charges against them. This was orchestrated through a collaboration between Moove Africa officials and certain police officers, executed without any legitimate warrant, court directive, or formal accusation. During their detention, the police compelled the drivers to write dictated statements under duress, highlighting the blatant misuse of authority and violation of legal protocols,” the petition detailed.
Comrade Azeez emphasized that the drivers endured both verbal and physical mistreatment during their arrest and questioning. He condemned the inhumane treatment and the denial of their right to legal defense, underscoring a blatant disregard for their basic human rights.
“This episode represents a severe abuse of power, a flagrant breach of human rights, and a calculated effort to intimidate, silence, and degrade innocent app-based drivers affiliated with Moove Africa’s Drive-To-Own (DTO) program,” the chairman asserted.
Related: Moove drivers halt operations in protest over 100% hike in weekly remittance
In response, the union is calling on relevant authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the illegal arrest, detention, and abuse of Moses Ameh and Byang Zakka. They are also demanding the prosecution of all responsible parties, including Moove officials, and compensation for the drivers to cover their wrongful imprisonment, lost earnings, and emotional distress.
Allegations of Exploitative Conduct by Moove
Approximately one month ago, drivers operating under Moove’s vehicle financing scheme on the Uber platform staged a work stoppage to protest a drastic increase in their weekly payment obligations. The drivers revealed to Technext that Moove doubled the weekly remittance for their Suzuki S-Presso vehicles from 56,400 naira to 112,200 naira, a hike they found unacceptable.
The drivers attribute their protest to the arbitrary nature of the remittance increase and the opaque breakdown of the payment structure. They are urging Moove to rescind the steep increment. Alarmingly, only 39,766 naira of the new weekly payment goes toward loan repayment, representing just 33% of the total amount.
According to a detailed cost analysis obtained by Technext, aside from the 39,766 naira allocated for loan repayment, drivers are also charged a weekly maintenance fee of 9,966 naira, despite contributing to a weekly repairs fund of 16,343 naira. Additional deductions include 2,885 naira for insurance, a minimal 505 naira for health insurance, and a substantial handling fee of 42,735 naira-prompting drivers to question why handling costs exceed the loan repayment amount.
Comrade Azeez accused Moove of engaging in unethical and exploitative tactics, such as inflating daily remittance figures to extort drivers and assigning multiple drivers to a single vehicle to maximize profits.
“The company promises brand-new vehicles from CFAO Motors at contract signing but delivers used or accident-repaired cars from their Ojota workshop. They fail to accurately document drivers’ loan repayments, falsely label them as defaulters, and forcibly repossess vehicles,” he explained.
He further criticized Moove for deducting health insurance fees without enrolling drivers in comprehensive coverage. Many drivers who fell ill received no support, and their vehicles were repossessed when they failed to meet payment obligations during recovery periods. These practices, according to Azeez, expose a pattern of systemic corruption, exploitation, and deliberate fraud targeting vulnerable drivers.
Additionally, the union leader accused Moove of forging signatures on falsified contracts and later claiming these agreements were “subject to review.” Drivers have also been denied access to their signed contracts, unable to view or download copies, which Azeez described as a deliberate act of concealment and bad faith.
“Moove Africa’s failure to provide the promised brand-new vehicles, coupled with a more than 100% increase in remittance disguised as inflated handling, maintenance, and repair fees, constitutes a breach of contract and exploitation of app-based drivers who placed their trust in the company,” Comrade Azeez concluded.
Consequently, AUATON is calling for a comprehensive probe into Moove’s Drive-To-Own operations and contractual dealings throughout Lagos State.
Technext reached out to Moove via [email protected] regarding these allegations but had not received a response at the time of publication.
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