The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has asked the police to conduct further investigations into allegations of forgery and willful property damage made against a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi.
The request comes on the heels of a second police report, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dahiru, which exonerated Ochonogor and Owolabi of any wrongdoing.
In a letter dated August 22, 2025 and signed by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Adeshola Adekunle-Bello, the Ministry asked the police to reopen the case by interrogating more witnesses and reevaluating key documents.
The letter was addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annexe, Ikoyi, DPP Director.
The Ministry specifically requested that the investigation team interrogate key witnesses, including Dr. Obidigwe Eze and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, based on new developments in the case.
The real estate developer was arraigned last week before a Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square alongside two lawyers, Ademola Owolabi and Adebayo Akeju, over their alleged involvement in forging land documents and demolishing property in the Lekki area.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charge, and they were granted bail by the trial judge.
However, not satisfied with the first police report that led to the indictment, Ochonogor and his lawyer wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police alleging compromised investigation, abuse of public office, shoddy investigation, and witch-hunting.
In the report, which has already been forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution for necessary action, the police discovered that none of the documents were forged and that the relevant government agency and officials had authorised the demolition of the structure on the disputed land.
Some of the investigation’s findings are: “That on 12th July, 1994, Lagos State Government, by a Certificate of Occupancy registered as 36/361994w, allocated a Parcel of Land known and described as Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1 to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was then the Chief Security Officer (SO) to Gen. Sanni Abacha, then Head of State.
“That Mr Alex Ochomogor was introduced to the property at Block 133, Plot 10, Lekk Phase 1, Lagos through Agent, Donatus Eze, a Managing Director of Trust Dede and Property Nigeria Limited of Plot 6, Udeco Road, Off Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos on 3rd of March, 2015.
“That Engineer Peter Omotosho of Archbond Builders Ltd confirmed to the police that the demolition notice was properly signed by himself and Mr Bode Agoro of Lagos State, and therefore it is not a forged document.
“The Demolition Notice was also published by Lagos State Government in Punch Newspaper on 11th September 2009 and duly signed by Mr Gbenga B. Ashafa, Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Lagos State Government.
“That the police confirmed that the (complainant) Dr Obidigwe Eze’s deed of assignment was not signed by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Mr Abdul Fatai Alao Thomas. This simply means that the document was forged.
The Registrar of Titles in Lagos State confirmed to the police that the memorandum of loss was properly registered and therefore it was not forged.
“That the police confirmed that the memorandum of loss declaration and affidavit of loss were properly signed by Al-Mustapha, and therefore, they were not forged.”
Justice Serifat Sonaike has adjourned the case to October 13, 2025.
In his reaction to the fresh police investigation, Lagos lawyer George Obot stated that the developments are significant and they may potentially lead to the defendants being exonerated of all charges.
Obot asserted that the Ministry of Justice neglected critical elements of the offences, including vital evidence, and failed to interview key witnesses, which led to a hasty prosecution of the defendants.
He, however, said it is not too late for Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and other officials of the Ministry to do the right thing.
