Ojikutu Says N130m Land Fraud Allegation Stemmed From Property Misidentification

Sinatu Ojikutu recounts Lekki land dispute

Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Sinatu Ojikutu has said the N130 million land fraud allegation involving her and her son arose from the mistaken identification of a property in Lekki, Lagos, rather than an attempt to defraud a buyer.

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Ojikutu made the claim while recounting the long-running dispute at the 2026 PR Forum/CSR Exhibition & Award. She said an agent had mistakenly identified a vacant plot as property belonging to her late husband, while the family’s actual property was located on an adjoining plot.

The case dates back to a 2014 petition to the police alleging that Ojikutu and her son, Sampson, were involved in a N130 million land transaction described as fraudulent. Ojikutu has disputed that account and said the matter was subsequently used to damage her political reputation.

Ojikutu Attributes Dispute to Property Identification Error

According to Ojikutu, the controversy began after an agent identified a vacant plot as belonging to her late husband.

She said her late husband’s actual property was situated on an adjoining plot that had already been developed. After the vacant land was presented to her, she said investigations conducted through her lawyer at the land registry did not reveal an encumbrance on the property.

Ojikutu said the property was subsequently sold, but the dispute emerged after the buyer began developing the land and was approached by another person claiming ownership.

Further investigations, according to her account, established that the family’s property was the adjoining plot rather than the one that had been sold.

The episode highlights the potential consequences of errors in identifying and verifying land ownership, particularly in markets where multiple claims can exist over adjoining properties.

Ojikutu Says Buyer Was Refunded

Ojikutu also disputed the amount associated with the controversy.

While the case became widely known as a N130 million land fraud allegation, she said the actual transaction involved N120 million. She said the buyer was initially refunded N50 million, with the remaining N70 million subsequently repaid.

She maintained that the transaction was not intended to defraud the buyer and that the dispute resulted from the initial misidentification of the property.

The former deputy governor also said her son became involved because he was managing her late husband’s estate alongside her.

Political Motive Alleged

Ojikutu said the land controversy was subsequently exploited for political purposes because an election was approaching and she was actively involved in the campaign at the time.

That is Ojikutu’s account of the political dimension of the case, rather than an independently established finding in the current report. She said the controversy was used to damage her reputation and create public disaffection against her.

She also rejected suggestions that she fled Nigeria after travelling to the United States, saying the trip had been scheduled in advance and was for medical reasons. She said she had informed the police before travelling.

Land Verification Remains Critical to Property Transactions

The dispute underscores the importance of comprehensive land verification before property transactions are completed.

For buyers, confirming the identity and boundaries of a property is only one part of the due-diligence process. Prospective purchasers also need to establish the seller’s legal interest, verify title documents, conduct searches at the relevant land registry and confirm that the physical property corresponds with the documents and survey information.

Errors involving adjoining plots can create significant financial and legal exposure, particularly in high-value locations such as Lekki where land transactions can involve substantial sums.

For developers and investors, independent surveying and legal due diligence can therefore be important safeguards against disputes that could delay construction, affect financing or undermine the marketability of a property.

Ojikutu Says She Is Pursuing Her Own Property Claim

Ojikutu said the family subsequently discovered that someone had sold her late husband’s actual property, although she said there was no clear evidence that he had authorised the transaction.

She added that she had gone to court to reclaim the property.

The case illustrates how unresolved ownership questions can extend beyond an individual transaction and develop into wider disputes involving buyers, families, agents and competing property claims.

For Lagos’ property market, the episode reinforces the importance of reliable land records, accurate surveying and effective title verification in reducing disputes and strengthening confidence in real estate transactions.

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