A US-based man Kennedy Chukwuemeka Nwabuoku has reportedly been duped by some land agents in Lagos, who led him to the lagoon after he parted with N787.5million for 150 plots of land.
It was gathered that Nwabuoku transferred the monies in the following order over a period: N229,000,000, N86,000,000, N120,000,000, N41,300,000, N11,291,000, and N90,000,000.
The agents identified as Emeka Okoronkwo and Michael Owolabi Alonge had offered the land for sale at N5,250,000 per plot with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
Nwabuoku told the told detectives led by DCP Abutu Yaro, at the Force Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon, that he bought the unseen land with a foreign partner and had paid in fiduciary trust, sending monies on different occasions through his company, KenBouk Global Investment Ltd.
The agents were sending him pictures and videos of caterpillars in action at the purported site at Ifedele Agunbiade Village, Sangotedo, in Eti-Osa area of Lagos.
Trouble started after Nwabuoku’s family in Nigeria who wanted to see the site were told that the land was in an area bought by prominent Nigerians like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, and it was cordoned off so that ordinary citizens could not gain access.
When he became suspicious, Nwabuoku sent the C of O to a friend to verify, and the friend found that no such land or location described in the document existed.
He decided to visit Nigeria and inspect the land for which he had paid the property agent, Okoronkwo, who was identified as the owner of Kings Court Realtors at Plot 321A, Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island.
When Nwabuoku arrived and insisted he must see the site before further payments, Alonge allegedly took him to a location far inside a wooded area that led to the lagoon with canoes going back and forth.
He stated that Mr Michael Owolabi Alonge started pointing around and towards the lagoon as if he was not sure where the land is anymore.
Investigations into the matter revealed that fictitious persons were listed in the Deed of Assignment that the suspected fraudsters also gave to Nwabuoku.
During interrogation by the police on November 8, 2017, Okoronkwo allegedly admitted that he collected N603,000,000 for 100 plots, agency fees and legal fees through transfers to Kings Court Realtors’ accounts in two banks
When Nwabuoku, who had been given no receipt, asked for a refund, he said that the suspects had threatened to kill him if he fails to keep quiet on the transaction.
Detectives have completed their investigation and the matter has been charged to court with Sgt Morufu Animashaun as police lawyer.
There was an arrest warrant for Okoronkwo who allegedly received the payments, and he will appear in court on December 5.
The case is pending before Chief Magistrate (Mrs) Abimbola Komolafe of Magistrate Court 3, Igbosere, in Lagos.
I not believe it
Purported Sale of Lagos Lagoon; The Shame of a Nation.
Our attention has been drawn to your publication titled as above. For reasons best known to you, you have deliberately misrepresented the facts and therefore misleading the public. Our findings reveal this to be a pure case of civil commercial transaction between two parties where one-party Mr. Kennedy Nwabouku is using his connections in high places to intimidate Mr. Emeka Okoronkwo a seasoned Professional, a Chartered Surveyor and Valuer of Kings Court Realtors, and therefore appropriate 50 plots of land to himself without paying for it. It is also instructive to note that a popular Lagos lawyer and an acclaimed human rights activist is aiding Mr. Kennedy in perpetuating this grave injustice.
The subject land is described in the survey plan attached to the C of O which same survey plan was used as the description in the Deed of Assignment conveying all 150 plots to the purchaser by the owners of the land.
The facts of the matter are;
1. Mr. Kennedy Nwabuoku through his agents approached Emeka Okoronkwo’s office to assist in the purchase of 150plots of land
2. Mr. Emeka Okoronkwo procured a block of 150 plots covered by a certified Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Lagos state government
3. Mr Kennedy through 4 instalment payments was only able to pay for 100plots.
4. The sellers became impatient and wanted quick completion of payments particularly as there were other potential buyers
5. Mr. Kennedy requested Emeka to please find means of paying up for the 50plots so that he Kennedy Nwabuoku does not lose the land. Kennedy promised to pay Emeka back the cost of the 50plots afterwards
6. Emeka then paid up for the 50plots to complete the deal based upon trust and agreement with Mr Kennedy Nwabuoku
7. All the land documentation for the purchase of 150plots of land are with Mr. Kennedy Nwabuoku. The documents include the C of O & the Power of Attorney, etc.
8. Mr. Kennedy continues to hold unto the documents for 150plots of land whereas he paid for only 100plots
9. When Emeka demanded for the refund of the cost of 50plots from Mr. Kennedy, he met with threats and blatant refusal from Mr. Kennedy.
10. Emeka petitioned the EFCC following Kennedy’s refusal to refund him the agreed cost for the 50plots
11. Mr. Kennedy using his connections in government petitioned the Police IG falsely claiming that land does not exist and that documents issued by the Lagos State government are fake. He then turned around and requested a refund of the money paid for the 100 plots, this is after 5 months of holding onto the land documents and refusal to pay his debt on the 50 plots.
12. Emeka demanded the documents be returned to him to enable sale to other prospective buyers so that Kennedy Nwabuoku can be so refunded.
13. The police intervened and encouraged parties to reach an amicable settlement of the matter.
14. The Agreement for Accord and Satisfaction that was proposed and signed already by Mr. Okonrokwo in the presence of the Police IPOs agreeing that the land in question be sold and the proceeds used to refund the part payment made by the Mr. Kennedy.
15. Kennedy using the police tricked Emeka Okoronkwo in believing they were coming for the execution of the settlement agreement. Emeka arrived his lawyer’s office where he signed the agreement in the presence of the IPO. The IPO also endorsed his signature on the settlement agreement.
16. After signing the agreement, the IPO then told Emeka he was under instruction from his superiors to arrest Emeka Okoronkwo.
17. Since Wednesday the 8th of November Emeka has been held at Alagbon police station and subjected to sub human treatments including torture and shackling his legs for a purely civil and commercial matter.
18. The police refused him bail and instead went to magistrate court to obtain a detention order.
19. The police continue to hold Emeka to perpetuate the threat by Kennedy Nwabuoku aided by an acclaimed human rights lawyer.
20. Mr. Kennedy Nwabuoku continues to hold unto the Original Certificate of Occupancy, along with the Deed of Assignment and a Power of Attorney, duly vesting the land in his company, his designated beneficiary. The receipt of these documents, was duly acknowledged by the complainant by email on receipt.
Mr. Nwabuoku was and has been unable to affect the refund for the 50 plots and had asked Mr. Okonrokwo for time to affect the refund, which he was still unable to do after 3 months. The refund to Mr. Okoronkwo of the balance sum paid on his behalf to the owners of the land remains owed and outstanding to date a debt Mr Kennedy Nwabuoku acknowledged in writing.
It is pertinent to note that when Mr. Okoronkwo first became aware of Mr. Nwabuoku’s Petition to the Police, he on his own, visited the authorities at Abuja and at his cost invited the Investigating officers to Lagos to visit the Land’s Registry at Alausa as well as the Land site. The land in question was described as 150 plots and more particularly described by the survey plan attached to the C of O. It was in other to avoid any unpleasantness that Mr. Okoronkwo agreed to find another buyer for the land and to refund the money advanced by Mr. Nwabuoku. This was in the light of the several threats made by Kennedy Nwabuoku to severely deal with Mr. Okoronkwo.
It is worthy of note that Mr. Okoronkwo who had honoured every invitation by the Police, was arrested in his lawyer’s office at a meeting conveyed by the Police to sign the attached Agreement for Accord and Satisfaction in resolution of the issues in difference.
Mr. Okoronkwo’s lawyer’s thinking it was an honest desire to adhere to protocol volunteered to stand as his surety, upon which the Policemen said it could only be done at a Police Station and that the Bar Beach Police Station was the closest. Mr. Okoronkwo in company of his lawyer obliged. At the station his phones were forcefully taken from him, he was told he was under arrest and put behind the counter.
Mr. Okoronkwo did not at any time resist or quarrel with the Police. When the bar beach Station refused to take him into custody, for reasons best known to them, the Police asked that we all go to Alagbon Close, to which Mr. Okoronkwo obliged, believing this was all a mistake and that once the superior officers knew the truth they would call the IPOs to order. This was so even though the fact that he was arrested without a warrant and that the transaction in question was wholly civil were brought to the attention of the court.
Mr. Okoronkwo was rushed to the Police hospital on the 15th of November when he was found to be very weak and ill in the cell. His blood pressure had risen to dangerous levels. Mr. Okoronkwo’s situation is still very dire. He had collapsed in the hospital on the night of the 15th of November, completely unaware of where he was. He had to be assisted in walking and had difficulty urinating. The doctors have battled to stabilize him, but he continues to need medical attention.
Mr Okoronkwo continues to be denied bail by the Police Authority even though this is a civil transaction and Mr. Emeka Okoronkwo is the victim. He has an armed Policeman stationed in his room 24/7 and is confused as to what he has done to deserve this in a democracy where the Rule of Law is supposed to be operational and Mr. Kennedy Nwabuoku’s lawyer a leading human rights activist who has been kept fully abreast of the torture and infraction of Mr. Okoronkwo’s liberties and the excesses of the Police in this matter.
The police authorities do not appear to be interested in the truth as they have, for whatever reason bought Mr. Nwabuoku’s version of events as incredulous as it is while refusing to even look at the verifiable facts and the accounts of Mr. Okoronkwo.
The campaign of calumny against the person of Mr. Okoronkwo, the seeming complicity in his plight by a leading human rights activist in calling in the Police Force, in a purely civil transaction and the erosion of the Fundamental Rights and Liberties of Mr Okoronkwo is not only a sad commentary but most disheartening given the personalities that have acquiesced in the plight of Mr. Okoronkwo. He should be allowed his bail to enable him to tend to his health and his business. Our findings also reveal that the Libra Law Office in Lagos is currently working to get Justice for the victim Mr. Emeka Okoronkwo.
For concerned friends and professional colleagues