COURT SEALS LEKKI WATERFRONT PROPERTY AMID ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD, REGULATORY BREACH

Contrary to claims and narratives circulating in certain quarters, fresh details have emerged explaining the circumstances behind the sealing of a disputed waterfront property within the Lekki Peninsula Scheme, Lagos. The action, ordered by a High Court in Abuja, followed allegations of fraud, regulatory violations and threats to public order arising from a contested land transaction.

The claimant, Henry Ugonna Orabuchi, says the legal action was taken as a last resort after repeated inconsistencies, alleged contractual breaches and what he described as deliberate attempts to frustrate the perfection of his title to the property.

According to Orabuchi, he was introduced in 2022 to Elvis Emecheta Eze by an intermediary who presented Emecheta as the owner of a waterfront property in Lekki, Lagos. He was informed that a large portion of the land was waterlogged and required sand-filling, after which the reclaimed land would be sold at ₦800,000 per square metre.

Following negotiations, Orabuchi agreed to purchase 3,000 square metres of the reclaimed land for ₦2.4 billion. During the transaction, Emecheta allegedly requested an additional ₦100 million to fast-track the project, which Orabuchi paid in good faith.

The agreement was executed based on documents presented by Emecheta, including a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) covering the main property adjoining the waterfront. It was expressly represented that the Governor’s Consent for Henry Orabuchi’s portion would be derived from the root title of the main property.
Orabuchi stated that the main property, which already had a developed structure, provided the only access to the waterfront area. This, he said, made both parcels of land physically, legally and commercially inseparable, a fact captured in the contract of sale. It was further agreed that an access road to the reclaimed land would be constructed through the main property.

Under the agreement, Elvis Emecheta undertook to complete the sand-filling and perfect all documentation within 17 months, assuring that the root title already enjoyed Governor’s Consent.
However, following the reclamation exercise, officials of the Lagos State Government reportedly assessed the site and confirmed that only 6,700 square metres of land were legally recognised as reclaimed. Mr. Emecheta allegedly rejected the assessment and insisted on reclaiming up to 10,000 square metres through federal channels.
During this period, Henry Orabuchi alleged that Elvis Emecheta began marketing the reclaimed waterfront property through agents without releasing or perfecting title documents for him. Portions of the property were allegedly assigned to the Lord of Hosts Miracle Church and other business entities.

Henry Orabuchi questioned why title documents were withheld from him as the legitimate purchaser, while assignments were allegedly made to third parties. He further alleged that Elvis Emecheta deliberately stalled the perfection process to evade full performance of his contractual obligations.

Further investigations, according to Orabuchi, revealed that several structures erected on the property lacked valid planning approvals, in violation of Lagos State building regulations. As a result, the Lagos State Building Control Authority (LASBCA) reportedly removed some of the structures during a regulatory enforcement exercise.

Faced with alleged misrepresentations, regulatory breaches and the risk of financial loss, Orabuchi petitioned the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), alleging obtaining money by false pretences, criminal breach of trust, cheating and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The IGP reportedly directed that the petition be investigated by the Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos. While investigations were ongoing, Orabuchi alleged that Emecheta petitioned the IGP Monitoring Unit in Abuja, contrary to police directives against duplication of cases.
To prevent conflicting investigations, the IGP reportedly instructed the Monitoring Unit in Abuja to step aside and allow Zone 2 Command to conclude its inquiry. Despite this directive, Mr. Orabuchi claimed that officers attached to the Abuja Monitoring Unit continued to harass and threaten him.
This development, he said, necessitated a civil action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/4636/2025, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights and the preservation of the disputed property.
Court Order and Sealing of Property
Following an ex parte application, the court granted an order directing the sealing of the disputed property and the suspension of all activities on the premises pending the determination of the suit. The court held that the order was necessary to prevent a breach of public peace and a possible breakdown of law and order.
The property was subsequently sealed in strict compliance with the court order by the appropriate enforcement agencies.

Mr. Orabuchi urged members of the public to disregard what he described as misleading narratives surrounding the matter. He further warned prospective investors to exercise caution in any dealings involving the disputed property, stressing the importance of thorough due diligence in real estate transactions.