Lagos Socialite Abu Abel Arrested Over Alleged N477m Land Fraud

A popular Lagos socialite, Olaseni Johnson Olayinika, better known as Abu Abel, has been arrested over his alleged role in a land scam worth ₦447 million.

It was gathered that Abu Abel was arrested by officers from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Alagbon, led by CSP Taiwo Oyewole, following orders from Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Margaret Ochalla.

Abu Abel, who had reportedly gone into hiding for weeks, was finally caught at a residence in Victoria Island.

Authorities believe the socialite had been laying low to dodge arrest and frustrate the ongoing investigation.

According to police sources, his arrest was triggered by a petition from Doyin Investment Group of Companies.

The company accused him of fraudulently selling three plots of land located on Augustina Orji Street, within the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family land in the Oke-Arin Village area of Eti-Osa, Lagos.

Their lawyers claimed that in 2023, Abel presented himself as the rightful owner of Plots 1, 4, and 10, covering about 1,800 square metres.

He reportedly convinced the company to pay ₦447 million, and both parties signed a Deed of Assignment to finalize the deal.

However, it later emerged that the land had unresolved claims from third parties, making the transaction invalid.

When the company raised concerns, Abu Abel admitted he knew about the issues and promised a refund.

He refunded ₦230 million but failed to pay back the remaining ₦217 million.

The company also claimed he became hard to reach and even began threatening their officials.

In January 2024, Abel signed an agreement to either pay the balance or forfeit his property at Block C, Plot 22, Oba Amusa Adebambo Avenue, Lekki.

But despite the written commitment, he neither paid the balance nor handed over the property.

The socialite was said to have filed a lawsuit claiming his fundamental rights were being violated, but the police believe it was an attempt to stall the investigation.

After weeks of tracking, the FCID team finally located and arrested him at his Victoria Island hideout without any resistance.

A senior police source revealed that Abel is also being investigated for alleged ties to a secret cult group involved in land fraud, intimidation, and other criminal activities 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.

Officers recovered crucial documents from him, including payment receipts, signed agreements, and his written undertakings.

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.

Doyin Investment Group is now calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure Abel is prosecuted and the 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.

Efforts to reach FCID spokesperson Ameenat Maiyegun for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were unanswered at the time this report was filed.

KanyiDaily recalls that a court in Abuja recently remanded a social media influencer, Ghali Isma’il, for posting a video falsely claiming that President Bola Tinubu had died after a serious illness.