ALLEGED FRAUD IN LEKKI WATERFRONT DEAL : HOW ABUJA HIGH COURT ORDERED SEALING OF DISPUTED PROPERTY

Contrary to misleading reports and narratives circulating in some quarters regarding the sealing of a disputed waterfront property within the Lekki Peninsula Scheme, Lagos, fresh facts have emerged to clarify the circumstances that led to the court action, the involvement of law enforcement agencies and the role of Lagos State regulatory authorities.

The claimant, Mr. Henry Ugonna Orabuchi has explained that the legal steps taken were a measure of last resort, prompted by what he described as glaring inconsistencies, regulatory violations, and potential fraud surrounding the transaction involving the disputed land.

Background of the Transaction:
Mr. Orabuchi was introduced to Mr. Elvis Emecheta Eze sometime in 2022 by an agent who presented Mr. Emecheta is the owner of a waterfront property located in Lekki, Lagos. He was informed that a substantial portion of the land was waterlogged and that Mr. Emecheta was seeking a financial partner to sand-fill the area, after which the reclaimed land would be sold at the rate of ₦800,000 per square meter.

Following negotiations, Mr. Orabuchi entered into a formal agreement to purchase 3,000 square meters of the reclaimed land for a total consideration of ₦2.4 billion. During the course of the transaction, Mr. Emecheta further requested an additional ₦100 million to fast track the process, which Mr. Orabuchi obliged in good faith. The agreement was executed based on documents presented by Mr. Emecheta, including a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) over the main property, abutting the waterfront.

It was expressly represented that Mr. Orabuchi’s Governor’s consent over the reclaimed portion would be derived from the root of- title of the main property.

Mr. Orabuchi stated that the main property, which already had a developed structure, provided the only access to the waterfront being reclaimed. This made the main property and the reclaimed waterfront land physically, legally, and commercially inseparable, a fact clearly captured in the contract of sale.

It was further agreed that access to the reclaimed land would be created through the main property, including the construction of an access road leading from the existing structure to the waterfront portion.

Regulatory Issues and Red Flags:
Under the agreement, Mr. Emecheta undertook to sand-fill the waterlogged area and perfect all necessary documentation within 17 months, with assurances that the root of title already enjoyed Lagos State Governor’s Consent.

However, following the sand-filling exercise, officials of the Lagos State Government reportedly conducted an assessment and confirmed that only 6,700 square meters of land was legally recognised as having been reclaimed by Mr. Emecheta. Rather than accept and regularise the assessment, Mr. Emecheta allegedly rejected the report, insisting on reclaiming up to 10,000 square meters through the federal government.

During this period, Mr. Emecheta reportedly engaged the services of agents to start marketing the whole reclaimed water front property without releasing and perfection of title documents for Mr Henry Orabuchi, rather, portions of the said property was fraudulently assigned to Lord of Hosts Miracle Church and other business operators.

It is important to question the motives behind the actions of Mr. Elvis Emecheta, who failed to release the relevant title documents to the genuine and legitimate purchaser, Mr. Henry Orabuchi, yet assigned same to a church owner and other business enterprises.

Mr. Orabuchi consiquently alleged that Mr. Emecheta acted deviously by deliberately stalling the title perfection process, thereby evading full performance of his obligations under the contract of sale.

Further investigations revealed that most of the structures erected on the said property by Mr. Elvis Emecheta was constructed without valid planning and proper documentation, which contravened the lagos state building regulations hence, the Lagos State Building Control Authority (LASBCA) moved in to remove the illegal structures during its regulatory assessment exercise. These developments, Mr. Orabuchi stated, directly contradicted earlier representations made to him and raised serious concerns regarding the legality, ownership, and extent of the land.

Law Enforcement and Court Intervention:
Faced with material inconsistencies, regulatory breaches, and the risk of substantial financial loss, Mr. Orabuchi demanded that proper legal steps be taken to perfect the title to the disputed land in order to avoid sanctions or penalties from relevant government agencies that could frustrate the contract of sale duly executed by both parties

Prior to instituting the suit, Mr. Orabuchi petitioned the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) against Mr. Elvis Emecheta for Obtaing money by false pretenses, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace. After reviewing the petition, the IGP directed that the matter be referred to Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters onikan Lagos for discreet investigation.

While investigation was still ongoing at the Zone 2 command Headquarters for his criminal culpability, Mr Emecheta allegedly petitioned the IGP monitoring unit Abuja in order to pervert the cause of justice on the matter contrary to the extant directives of the IGP on duplication of cases.

To avoid conflicting investigations, the IGP reportedly redirected the Monitoring Unit Abuja to step aside and allow Zone 2 command to conclude its investigation

Despite the clear directives from the IGP, officers attached to the monitoring units, Abuja continues to threaten and harassed Mr Henry Orabuchi, which necessitated the civil action instituted at the federal high court Abuja in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/ 4636/2025 against the officers attached to the Monitoring unit Abuja and other parties, seeking the protection of his fundamental rights and the preservation of the property in dispute.

Based on his application, the court granted an ex parte order directing the sealing of the disputed property and the suspension of all activities on the premises pending the hearing and determination of the matter. The order was issued specifically to prevent a breach of public peace and to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

Subsiquently, the said property was sealed strictly in accordance with the court order by the appropriate enforcement agents.

Mr. orabuchi urged the general public to disregard the false narratives been peddled by Mr Elvis Emecheta and his team designed to whip up sentiment, he concluded by warning the members of the public and other prospective investors to be wary of Mr. EMECHETA’s nefarious activities and exercise extreme caution in any dealings with him in order not to fall victim.

*Opposition Lawmakers in Reps Set Up Special Committee to Probe Tax Reforms Act Scandal

The leadership of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has constituted a seven-man fact-finding committee to independently investigate allegations of unlawful alterations to Nigeria’s newly enacted tax reform laws by elements within the executive arm of government.

In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by Minority Leader Rep. O.K. Chinda, Minority Whip Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C., PhD, Deputy Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki, and Deputy Minority Whip Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, the caucus described the move as expedient amid the lingering controversy over claims that the versions of the tax laws gazetted and set for implementation differ materially from those passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The opposition lawmakers expressed concern over the federal government’s determination to commence implementation of the laws from January 1, 2026, despite widespread demands for suspension pending resolution of the discrepancies.

They stressed that, as the opposition bloc, they owe Nigerians an independent and unbiased probe to establish the facts and protect citizens—especially the poor and vulnerable—from the consequences of enforcing an allegedly altered statute.

The four tax reform bills—the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act 2025—were signed into law in June 2025 after months of legislative scrutiny.

While the executive has defended the reforms as critical for streamlining revenue administration and easing the tax burden on low-income earners, critics have accused the process of post-assent tampering, with specific allegations pointing to the insertion of draconian enforcement clauses absent from the legislatively approved texts.

The newly inaugurated committee, chaired by Hon. Afam Ogene, has been given seven days to conclude its assignment and submit findings to the caucus leadership.

Its members include Hon. Gaza Gbefwi Jonathan, Hon. MB Shehu Fagge, Hon. Aliyu Garu, Hon. Stanley Adedeji, Hon. Ibe Okwara, and Hon. Marie Ebikake.

The panel’s mandate covers obtaining authenticated copies of the laws as passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and signed by the President, securing the gazetted versions circulated by the executive, conducting a line-by-line comparison to identify any disparities, and recommending appropriate responses should infractions be established.

Acknowledging that members of the House are currently on recess, the caucus leadership urged colleagues to treat the inquiry as a matter of urgent national importance, regretting any inconvenience caused while extending new year greetings.