Popular Lagos socialite Olaseni Johnson Olayinka, famously known as Abu Abel, has found himself in the middle of a storm after being arrested by officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon over an alleged ₦477 million land scam. The flamboyant businessman, known for his high-profile lifestyle and heavy social media presence, is accused of fraudulently selling land to a real estate firm, collecting a huge payment, and failing to deliver as promised.
According to the official petition filed by Doyin Investment Group of Companies, Abu Abel sold them three plots of land located on Augustina Orji Street, Oke Arin Village, under the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family in Eti Osa, Lagos. The deal, which went down in 2023, involved Plots 1, 4, and 10 of Block 103, with the real estate firm transferring a whopping ₦447 million to him after confirming the documents appeared valid. But trouble started shortly after when it was discovered that the same land was under contest and belonged to another party.
To avoid immediate legal battle, Abu Abel reportedly refunded ₦230 million, but allegedly defaulted on paying the outstanding balance of ₦217 million. By January 2024, he signed a written agreement to settle the debt or surrender his Lekki property as collateral. Months passed with no payment and no sign of compliance. Instead, Abu Abel allegedly filed a human rights suit in an attempt to stall the case, a move detectives see as a strategy to buy more time and delay justice.
Investigators who handled the arrest confirmed that several key documents, including bank receipts, deeds of assignment, and transaction correspondences were recovered from his residence and office during the probe. The seriousness of the case led to his arrest and further investigations are now exploring whether this was an isolated incident or part of a wider pattern of land racketeering tied to cult-linked land grabbing syndicates in Lagos and neighboring Ogun State.
Sources within the FCID also disclosed that Abu Abel’s name had come up in multiple petitions involving threats, intimidation, and unlawful property takeovers, especially in areas undergoing rapid development. This latest arrest could be the beginning of more legal troubles for the once untouchable socialite whose rise to fame has always been surrounded by mystery and street whispers.
This is not Abu Abel’s first run-in with land-related drama. In 2024, he was involved in another land dispute in Ologolo, Lagos, where he accused President Tinubu, his son Seyi, and the Lagos Chief of Staff of encroaching on his property. He later issued a public apology, admitting that his accusations were false and the land was actually under internal family conflict. That incident attracted heavy backlash and drew the attention of high-ranking political players who demanded he retract his statements, which he did.
Many believe that this recent arrest is proof that the long arm of the law eventually catches up, no matter how well-connected or popular an individual might be. While some of his supporters still defend him online, claiming that the case is being exaggerated to tarnish his name, others say it’s high time the authorities cracked down on high-level fraud and land scams that have plagued Lagos for decades.
Abu Abel is expected to be arraigned soon on charges including obtaining money under false pretence, conspiracy to defraud, and criminal breach of trust, all under the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006 and the Criminal Code. If found guilty, he could face serious jail time and forfeiture of assets.
As of now, he remains in custody, awaiting the next legal steps. For many Lagosians, especially those who’ve been victims of shady land deals, this case is more than a headline , it’s a loud warning. The city’s land market, while lucrative, is often a dangerous minefield filled with fake documents, impersonators, and sudden double claims. And for anyone still thinking money and status can shield them from the law, the fall of Abu Abel might just be the reality check Lagos never knew it needed.
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