The protracted Lekki land ownership saga has taken a new turn as the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has directed the police to reopen investigations into allegations of forgery and willful property damage leveled against real estate developer Alex Ochonogor and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi.
This directive follows a second police report signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dahiru, which cleared Ochonogor and Owolabi of any wrongdoing in the disputed Lekki property case.
In a letter dated August 22, 2025, and signed by Mrs. Adeshola Adekunle-Bello, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Ministry instructed the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Ikoyi, to conduct a fresh and comprehensive investigation.
The DPP advised that new witnesses be interrogated and key documents re-examined in light of recent developments.
The letter specifically mentioned the need to question Dr. Obidigwe Eze and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, both of whom were cited in the original investigation.
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Ochonogor, alongside lawyers Ademola Owolabi and Adebayo Akeju, was arraigned last week before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on charges of forgery and unlawful demolition of property in the Lekki area.
They all pleaded not guilty and were subsequently granted bail by the presiding judge, Justice Serifat Sonaike, who adjourned the matter to October 13, 2025 for further hearing.
Dissatisfied with the initial police report that led to their prosecution, Ochonogor and his lawyer petitioned the Commissioner of Police, alleging bias, abuse of office, and compromised investigation.
The revised police findings now under review by the Ministry indicated that:
The Certificate of Occupancy for the disputed land, Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, was lawfully issued to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha on July 12, 1994.
Alex Ochonogor was introduced to the property in 2015 through Donatus Eze, Managing Director of Trust Dede and Property Nigeria Ltd.
The demolition notice for the disputed structure was duly signed by Engineer Peter Omotosho of Archbond Builders Ltd and Mr. Bode Agoro of the Lagos State Lands Bureau. It was also published in Punch Newspaper on September 11, 2009, and signed by Mr. Gbenga B. Ashafa, then Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau.
The complainant’s deed of assignment, purportedly signed by Major Al-Mustapha, was confirmed to be forged, as neither Al-Mustapha nor Mr. Abdul Fatai Alao Thomas executed the document.
The Registrar of Titles and police investigators affirmed the authenticity of the memorandum and affidavit of loss documents linked to the case.
Reacting to the new development, Lagos lawyer George Obot described the directive for further investigation as “a step toward justice,” noting that earlier proceedings were rushed and poorly evaluated.
According to him, “The Ministry of Justice overlooked critical evidence and failed to interview key witnesses. However, it’s commendable that the Attorney General, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has now moved to correct those lapses. It’s not too late to do the right thing.”
The renewed investigation is expected to clarify lingering inconsistencies in the case and determine whether the prosecution against Ochonogor and his co-defendants should proceed.
