Popular Lagos-based socialite, Abu Abel, has been arrested over alleged land scam of over 400 million naira.
He was arrested today by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Alagbon, over his alleged involvement in a N447m land scam.
The arrest, ordered by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Margaret Ochalla, was carried out by a tactical team led by CSP Taiwo Oyewole.
According to Tribune online, Abel was apprehended at a residence in Victoria Island, where he had reportedly gone into hiding to evade arrest and disrupt police investigations.
His arrest followed a petition by Doyin Investment Group of Companies, accusing him of fraudulently selling them three plots of land located on Augustina Orji Street, within the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family land, Oke-Arin Village, Mayegun, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.
According to the petition, Abel allegedly misrepresented himself as the rightful owner of Plots 1, 4, and 10—measuring approximately 1,800.311 square metres—and collected N447 million from the company in 2023. A Deed of Assignment was signed, finalizing the transaction.
However, the company later discovered that the land was already encumbered and subject to claims by a third party. When confronted, Abel admitted knowledge of the issue and agreed to refund the payment. He reportedly returned N230 million but defaulted on the remaining N217 million.
Doyin Investment claims that Abel became evasive and even issued threats to company officials. On January 11, 2024, he signed a written undertaking, pledging to repay the outstanding amount or forfeit his property located at Block C, Plot 22, Oba Amusa Adebambo Avenue, Lekki, if he defaulted. Despite the agreement, he failed to complete the repayment and instead filed a fundamental human rights suit—an action police officials believe was a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice.