Conflicting Police Reports Deepen Dispute Over Lekki Property Linked to Al-Mustapha

The ownership of a contested Lekki property tied to Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd.), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, has become the subject of controversy after two separate investigations by different units of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, produced contradictory reports.

The dispute originated in April 2015 when estate developer and Managing Director of Bluecreast Homes Ltd, Alex Ochonogor, purchased land situated at Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Phase 1. Through his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi, Ochonogor made inquiries at the Lagos Land Registry and, satisfied with the response, paid N85 million to Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, Adebayo Akeju. In return, he received signed documents, including a Demolition Notice dated July 15, 2014, and a Memorandum of Loss (MOL) registered on October 22, 2014.

However, the transaction soon became contentious. Barely seven months later, a U.S.-based medical doctor, Eze Obidigwe, surfaced, claiming he had bought the same parcel of land from Al-Mustapha as far back as May 12, 2005. Obidigwe filed a suit at the Lagos State High Court, registered as LD/592LM/2015, and petitioned the FCID, prompting a series of investigations.

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SEB Findings Against Al-Mustapha and Associates

The Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB) of the FCID, in its 28-point report dated November 15, 2023, concluded that Al-Mustapha had sold the land twice. The SEB confirmed that the land, numbered 36/36/1994w, was allocated to him in December 1994 but noted he executed two Deeds of Assignment—one transferring the property to Ochonogor in 2015 and another to Continental Properties, through which Obidigwe later acquired it.

The SEB alleged that in a bid to secure the property, Akeju, Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, orchestrated the demolition of a structure built by Obidigwe, falsely presenting it as an action by the Lagos State Government. Furthermore, it claimed that the MOL used by Ochonogor as proof of ownership was forged, with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice confirming the document was not authentic.

The report criticised Ochonogor’s lawyer, Owolabi, for failing to conduct proper due diligence, stressing that there was no evidence his client obtained a Certified True Copy of the MOL as claimed. SEB concluded that conspiracy, forgery, illegal encroachment, and contempt of court could be established against Al-Mustapha, Akeju, and Ochonogor.

Obidigwe was recognised as the sole complainant, while Owolabi and five others were cited as witnesses. Al-Mustapha, Akeju, Ochonogor, and two others were listed as suspects.

GIS Report Contradicts SEB

In stark contrast, the General Investigation Section (GIS) of the FCID released a 23-page report dated June 13, 2025, challenging the SEB’s conclusions. Signed by its head, Muhammed Dahiru, the GIS accused the SEB of conducting a compromised and biased investigation.

The GIS maintained that Al-Mustapha never transferred the property to Obidigwe. Instead, it asserted that the former CSO only signed agreements with Continental Properties and Ochonogor. The GIS also defended the legitimacy of the MOL and Affidavit of Loss, noting that both documents were properly executed by Al-Mustapha.

Furthermore, unlike the SEB, the GIS insisted the demolition notice was authentic, citing its publication in PUNCH Newspaper on September 11, 2009, and the signature of Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, then Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Lagos State Government.

The GIS report excluded Al-Mustapha from the suspect list and instead named three others, including lawyers involved in the case. It recommended that the matter be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution in line with an earlier directive dated October 29, 2024.

Contradictions in Allotment Dates

One of the most glaring inconsistencies between the two reports lies in the date of the land allocation. The SEB stated that the land was allotted to Al-Mustapha on December 7, 1994, while the GIS claimed the allocation occurred on July 12, 1994. Despite this discrepancy, both units agreed that the land was indeed originally allocated to him.

FCID Spokesperson Confirms Re-Investigation

Reacting to the conflicting findings, the FCID Police Public Relations Officer, Mayegun Aminat, confirmed that the case had been re-investigated following a fresh petition submitted to the Assistant Inspector General of Police.

She disclosed that a competent court has formally requested a Certified True Copy of the second report, which will soon be issued. However, Aminat also clarified that the officers who handled both investigations were no longer serving at the FCID Lagos Annex.

“I have just checked the report; the case was re-investigated. A certified true copy has been requested by a competent court and is being issued,” she stated.

The contradictory outcomes from the two FCID units have further complicated an already protracted legal battle. While the SEB’s report paints Al-Mustapha and his lawyer as complicit in fraud and conspiracy, the GIS absolves them of wrongdoing and shifts suspicion elsewhere.

With both civil and criminal litigations still pending, the final determination may rest with the courts, which must now weigh the credibility of two starkly different police investigations.

For now, the Lekki property remains locked in controversy, raising fresh questions about due process, accountability, and the integrity of investigative procedures within Nigeria’s law enforcement system.