Hot SourceA new dimension has surfaced in the protracted Lekki land dispute, as the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has ordered the police to reopen investigations into alleged forgery and willful property destruction involving a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi.
The directive followed a second police report, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Dahiru, which had previously exonerated Ochonogor and Owolabi of all allegations.
In a letter dated August 22, 2025, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Adeshola Adekunle-Bello, the Ministry instructed the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Annex, Ikoyi, to revisit the case, question additional witnesses, and reassess key evidence.
The correspondence, addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID, specifically named Dr Obidigwe Eze and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha as crucial witnesses whose earlier statements should be re-evaluated in light of fresh information.
Ochonogor was recently arraigned before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square alongside lawyers Ademola Owolabi and Adebayo Akeju, on charges bordering on forgery of land documents and unlawful demolition of structures in Lekki. The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
Unhappy with the earlier police findings that led to their indictment, Ochonogor and Owolabi petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, alleging bias, abuse of power, and a compromised investigation.
Their petition prompted a fresh probe, which cleared them of wrongdoing and confirmed that the demolition in question had been officially sanctioned.
According to the latest police findings, on July 12, 1994, the Lagos State Government issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O No. 36/36/1994w) for Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, then Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Investigators also revealed that Ochonogor was introduced to the property in 2015 through an estate agent, Donatus Eze of Trust Dede and Property Nigeria Limited.
Engineer Peter Omotosho, of Archbond Builders Ltd, confirmed that the demolition notice was properly issued and published by the Lagos State Government in 2009.
The police also discovered that the deed of assignment presented by the complainant, allegedly signed by Al-Mustapha and Abdul Fatai Alao Thomas, was forged, while the Registrar of Titles verified that the memorandum of loss related to the property was genuine and duly registered.
Justice Serifat Sonaike adjourned the case to October 13, 2025 for further hearing.
Lagos orders fresh probe into Lekki land forgery case involving developer, lawyer
