A major twist has emerged in the legal battle involving real estate developer Alex Ochonogor and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi, as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has officially exonerated both men of allegations bordering on forgery and wilful property damage.
In a detailed investigative report dated June 13, 2025, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), General Investigation Section, Lagos, cleared Ochonogor and Owolabi of any wrongdoing.
The report, referenced CB:4099/X/ADM/X/ADM/GI/T. A/VOL.6142, was signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Dahiru and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, CID Annexe, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi.
The exoneration comes just days after the duo was arraigned before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square over allegations that they forged land documents and demolished a structure located in the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos.
Dissatisfied with the initial police investigation that led to their arraignment, Ochonogor and Owolabi petitioned the Commissioner of Police, alleging bias, shoddy procedures, and abuse of office in the earlier findings.
The petition prompted a fresh investigation, which uncovered critical discrepancies in the complainant's claims.
Key findings from the renewed police investigation revealed that the demolition of the disputed property was sanctioned by the appropriate Lagos State government agencies.
According to the report, “Engineer Peter Omotosho of Archbond Builders Ltd confirmed to the police that the demolition notice was properly signed by himself and Mr Bode Agoro of Lagos State.”
The report further noted that the Lagos State Government had published the demolition notice in Punch newspaper on September 11, 2009, under the signature of Mr Gbenga B. Ashafa, who was then the Permanent Secretary of the Lands Bureau.
Crucially, the investigation established that none of the documents relied upon by Ochonogor were forged.
“The Registrar of Titles, Lagos State, confirmed to the police that the memorandum of loss was properly registered,” the report stated.
It also confirmed that the accompanying affidavit of loss and declaration were correctly signed by the original titleholder, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
On the contrary, the report identified a forged document in the possession of the complainant, Dr Obidigwe Eze.
According to police findings, “the deed of assignment presented by Dr Eze was not signed by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha or Mr Abdul Fatai Alao Thomas,” indicating clear forgery.
The disputed property, described as Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, was originally allocated to Al-Mustapha by the Lagos State Government via a Certificate of Occupancy dated July 12, 1994.
Despite the exoneration, the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has yet to issue its legal opinion on the report.
The case, currently before the court, has been adjourned until October 13, 2025, for further proceedings.
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