A Lagos-based popular socialite, Olaseni Johnson Olayinika, popularly known as Abu Abel, has been arrested by the police over his alleged involvement in a ₦447 million (four hundred and forty-seven million naira) land scam.
Abu Abel was arrested by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Alagbon, led by CSP Taiwo Oyewole, on the orders of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Margaret Ochalla.
The popular socialite, who had reportedly been on the run for several weeks, was arrested at a residence in Victoria Island, where he had allegedly gone into hiding to avoid arrest and frustrate ongoing police investigations.
According to police sources, the arrest followed a petition filed by Doyin Investment Group of Companies, alleging that the suspect fraudulently sold them three plots of land situated at Augustina Orji Street, within Ojomu Chieftaincy Family land, Oke-Arin Village, Mayegun, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.
The company, through its lawyers, claimed that in 2023, the suspect falsely represented himself as the legitimate owner of Plots 1, 4, and 10, measuring about 1,800.311 square metres, and convinced them to pay ₦447 million for the property. A Deed of Assignment was duly executed between both parties.
However, following the transaction, the company discovered that the land was already encumbered and subject to a third-party claim.
When confronted, the suspect admitted he was aware of the issue and promised to refund the payment.
He began making partial payments and refunded ₦230 million in total before defaulting on the outstanding balance of ₦217 million.
According to the petition, the suspect became evasive and began threatening officials of the company.
On January 11, 2024, the suspect signed a written undertaking, pledging to repay the balance or forfeit his property at Block C, Plot 22, Oba Amusa Adebambo Avenue, Lekki, in the event of a default.
Despite this, he failed to honour his promise of repayment and instead filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit, which police authorities described as a ploy to obstruct justice.
Following weeks of coordinated intelligence gathering, the FCID Annex Alagbon Tactical Team traced the suspect to a hideout in Victoria Island, where he was arrested without resistance.
A senior officer familiar with the case told reporters that the suspect is also under investigation for alleged links to a secret cult group reportedly involved in high-profile fraud, land grabbing, and criminal intimidation across Lagos and Ogun States.
“His arrest was ordered by AIG Margaret Ochalla and executed by CSP Taiwo James and her tactical team. The operation was intelligence-driven and concluded successfully in Abuja,” the source disclosed.
Recovered from the suspect were key documents, including payment receipts, the Deed of Assignment, written undertakings, and correspondence with the complainant.
He is expected to be arraigned soon on multiple charges, including obtaining money under false pretence, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Criminal Code Act.
Meanwhile, Doyin Investment Group has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure the suspect is prosecuted and the company’s outstanding ₦217 million is recovered.
“This was a calculated fraud. We trusted the system, paid the money legally, and now the company is suffering losses. We commend the police for tracking him down, and we are confident that justice will be served,” a company representative stated.
The image maker in charge of FCID Annex, Alagbon, Ameenat Maiyegun, could not be reached as calls to her mobile phone lines were not answered at the time of filing this report.
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