Lagos socialite Abu Abel lands in police net over alleged ₦447 million land fraud deal.
He was nabbed in hiding after failing to fully refund disputed payment made in 2023.
Popular Lagos socialite, Olaseni Johnson Olayinka, widely known as Abu Abel, has been arrested by the police over his alleged role in a ₦447 million land scam.
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) in Alagbon, under the leadership of CSP Taiwo Oyewole. The operation was reportedly ordered by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Margaret Ochalla.
Abu Abel had reportedly gone into hiding for several weeks in an effort to evade arrest and hinder ongoing investigations. He was eventually tracked and arrested at a residence on Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to police sources, the arrest followed a petition submitted by Doyin Investment Group of Companies. The company alleged that in 2023, the suspect fraudulently sold them three plots of land located on Augustina Orji Street within the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family land in the Oke-Arin area of Eti-Osa, Lagos.
The company claimed that Abu Abel falsely presented himself as the rightful owner of Plots 1, 4, and 10, which total approximately 1,800 square metres. A Deed of Assignment was signed, and the firm paid him ₦447 million for the property.
However, after the purchase, the buyers discovered that the land was already under dispute and subject to a third-party claim. When confronted, Abu Abel allegedly admitted he knew about the issue and promised to return the money.
He initially refunded ₦230 million but failed to settle the remaining ₦217 million, despite signing a written agreement on January 11, 2024, pledging to either repay the balance or hand over a property located at Block C, Plot 22, Oba Amusa Adebambo Avenue, Lekki.
The company further alleged that after defaulting on the repayment, the suspect became evasive and even issued threats to their staff. Instead of fulfilling his promise, he went on to file a fundamental human rights enforcement suit, which police sources believe was merely an attempt to stall justice.
