Abu Abel Arrested Over ₦477 Million Land Scam: Socialite Faces Fraud Charges After Weeks in Hiding

Popular Lagos socialite Olaseni Johnson Olayinka, widely known as Abu Abel, has been arrested by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, over his alleged involvement in a ₦477 million land scam. The arrest followed a petition by Doyin Investment Group, which accused him of fraudulently selling three plots of land in Eti-Osa, Lagos, in 2023 while falsely claiming ownership. A deed of assignment was signed, and the company paid ₦447 million, only to discover the land was already under third-party claims. When confronted, Abu Abel admitted knowledge of the encumbrance and refunded ₦230 million but defaulted on the remaining ₦217 million. In January 2024, he signed a written undertaking to repay the balance or forfeit his Lekki property but failed to honor the agreement. Instead, he filed a human rights suit to stall police action, which authorities described as an attempt to obstruct justice. After weeks of surveillance, he was arrested in Victoria Island. Recovered from him were key documents including receipts, deeds, and correspondence linking him to the fraud. He is expected to be arraigned on charges including obtaining money under false pretence, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy to defraud. Police sources also revealed ongoing investigations into his alleged ties to a network involved in land grabbing and criminal intimidation across Lagos and Ogun States. The arrest has sparked public interest, given his high-profile status and previous controversies involving land disputes.