The Nigeria Police Force has exonerated a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi, of all allegations relating to forgery and wilful property damage in connection with a disputed property in Lekki, Lagos.

According to the police investigative report, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dahiru of the General Investigation Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Lagos, both men were cleared of wrongdoing after a fresh probe into the matter.

A Certified True Copy of the report, dated June 13, 2025, and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, CID Annexe, Alagbon, was obtained by our Reporter. The report followed a petition by the defendants, who challenged an earlier investigation, claiming it was compromised.

Ochonogor and Owolabi were arraigned last week before the Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square over allegations of forgery of land documents and illegal demolition of a structure on the disputed Lekki land.

However, the fresh police investigation found that none of the documents presented by the developer and his lawyer were forged. It also confirmed that relevant government officials duly authorised the demolition of the structure on the property.

The police stated that the investigation revealed that the land in question, Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, was originally allocated by the Lagos State Government in 1994 to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, then Chief Security Officer to former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

“Ochonogor was introduced to the property in 2015 by a real estate agent, Donatus Eze, Managing Director of Trust Dede and Property Nigeria Limited. The demolition notice was confirmed by Engineer Peter Omotosho of Archbond Builders Limited and co-signed by Bode Agoro of the Lagos State Government.

“A copy of the demolition notice had been published in a national newspaper on September 11, 2009, and signed by then Permanent Secretary of the Lands Bureau, Gbenga B. Ashafa. The complainant, Dr. Obidigwe Eze, was found to have presented a forged deed of assignment, as it was not signed by the original allottees, Al-Mustapha and Abdul Fatai Alao Thomas. Supporting documents, including the memorandum and affidavit of loss, were verified to be authentic and duly signed by Al-Mustapha.

The police have therefore submitted their report to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution.