A US-based Nigerian businessman was dazed in Lagos, when land agents led him to the lagoon after the part-payment for 150 plots offered for N787.5 million.
Kennedy Chukwuemeka Nwabuoku told detectives led by DCP Abutu Yaro, at the Force Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon, how he had paid N577, 590, 792 in installments among other charges, plus another N18million for bush clearing in February, and how the agents were sending him pictures and videos of caterpillars in action at the purported site at Ifedele Agunbiade Village, Sangotedo, in Eti-Osa area of Lagos.
Nwabuoku told the police that he bought the unseen land with a foreign partner and had paid in fiduciary trust, sending monies on different occasions through his company, KenBouk Global Investment Ltd.
Identified as Emeka Okoronkwo and Michael Owolabi Alonge, the agents, according to Nwabuoku, had offered the land for sale at N5, 250, 000 per plot with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
NewsmakersNG learnt that members of Nwabuoku’s family in Nigeria who wanted to see the site were told that the land was in an area bought by prominent Nigerians like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, and it was cordoned off so that ordinary citizens could not gain access.
When he became suspicious, Nwabuoku sent the C of O to a friend to verify, and the friend found that no such land or location described in the document existed.
He decided to visit Nigeria and inspect the land for which he had paid the property agent, Okoronkwo, who was identified as owner of Kings Court Realtors at Plot 321A, Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island.
When he was quizzed by the police on November 8, 2017, Okoronkwo allegedly admitted that he collected N603, 000, 000 for 100 plots, agency fees and legal fees through transfers to Kings Court Realtors’ accounts in two banks.
Detectives found that Nwabuoku transferred the monies in the following order over a period: N229, 000, 000, N86, 000, 000, N120, 000, 000, N41, 300, 000, N11, 291, 000, and N90, 000, 000.
They also found that the C of O given to Nwabuoku is a fake one, and that Alonge who introduced him to Okoronkwo “masterminded the fraud”.
According to the detectives, fictitious persons were listed in the Deed of Assignment that the suspected fraudsters also gave to Nwabuoku.
When Nwabuoku arrived and insisted he must see the site before further payments, Alonge allegedly took him to a location far inside a wooded area that led to the lagoon with canoes going back and forth.
“Mr Michael Owolabi Alonge started pointing around and towards the lagoon, as if he was not sure where the land is anymore,” Nwabuoku stated in his petition to the police.
When Nwabuoku, who had been given no receipt, asked for a refund, he said that the suspects had threatened to kill him if he fails to keep quiet on the transaction.
Detectives have completed their investigation and the matter has been charged to court with Sgt Morufu Animashaun as police lawyer.
NewsmakersNG learnt that Alonge is on the run.
There was an arrest warrant for Okoronkwo who allegedly received the payments, and he will appear in court on December 5.
The case is pending before Chief Magistrate (Mrs) Abimbola Komolafe of Magistrate Court 3, Igbosere, in Lagos.
Culled from NewsmakersNG
lolx nigga for life…hw can someone sell land u had no ideal about and you pay without investigation? group B
hmmm,this is terrible, fraudsters are everywhere
Group E
Nawa o.people no get conscience.
Justice will surely prevail in this case.
Group J
this is what real fraud is..
group M
fraud needs to be stopped in this country o
group M
What a pity. They wont go unpunished.
Group:A
Wow i thought tbat 419 no longer exist
Lolzz.. is it not naija again.. thats how they sold airport to a business man..
Group D
Group K
This is seriously bad….
this is so bad
Team:m
people should make proper enquiries before transactions. group J
so what will lagos government do about it??
Group F.
Nawa o. Some people sef.
Group A
Something should be done about this, very fast too. Team L.
I am not surprised. Nigerians can dupe a producer into buying back his product. I hope this fraud can be investigated and justice meted out. Group K
Boys dy work, boys dy chop…..God punish poverty
Team E
There is no different between 419 and this,it is a tipical fraud.
Group A
seriously is not fair this Nigeria have turned to another thing ooo.group f
Team H
Na wa o. This is so so incredible. This fraudsters them get mind o
Naija no dey carry last…I think it’s too much money that made him to pay for land he has not seen..
group c
So pitiful specific measures are to be taken
GROUP M
seriously this not fair,this our country Nigeria have turned to another thing ooo. this fraud should be investigated and the appropriate group in charge of such case should try to do justice. group f.
Hmm this is weird the man has no conscience group j
Nawa oo..dis nija sef
Team H
This is very bad.
Group K
i keep wondering if morality has gone on exile.
group c
i believe many conscience is dead because if it’s still working many things would be normal.
group H
No refund of money after payment… becareful.
No refund of money after payment… becareful.
group b
Hahahahahaha omo them don do this oyibo better maga oo walahi
This is unfair
group I
Gosh! Some guys are smart sha…but u buying something worth of that amount without seeing it at all…mugu go dey fall sha