Developer, Two Others Defraud 72 Tenants of N16m

By ChiemelieEzeobi

An estate developer, one Alhaji Lateef Akinjumi and two others;  simply identified as Ife and Tokunbo,  are currently cooling their heels off in detention for defrauding over 72 potentials tenants of about N16million, being payment for a five-storey building at the Ikotun area of Lagos. 

Some of the victims were identified as Blessing Alphonsus, Okolo Uju, Otung Francis, Patrick Imonitie, Chukwudi Olike, Wilson Udegbunam, Emeka Nzeako, Edwin Agu, Tunde Hassan, Sarafa Yusuf, Ikenna Nwachukwu, Mrs. Tina Akinjimi and Bose Egan, who were duped of N180,000, N100,000, N270,000, N255,000, N245,000, N120,000, N160,000, N150,000, N160,000, N550,000, N100,00, N170,000 and N57,000 respectively.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the suspects had collected different sums of money ranging from N100, 000 to N3million for the unsuspecting victims with the promise of officially renting out the apartments from the first week of March.

It was also gathered that the developer had begun to collect money for the apartments from the foundation digging for the house located at no 23 Opeloyeru Street, off Ikotun Egbe, in October 2012, and continued on his alleged fraud until last month.

After months of keeping their victims in the dark, the ball was set rolling last week Thursday when all the victims turned up at the house with great expectations to sign the final lease. 

Eyewitness account said a fight ensued as all potential tenants engaged each other in a duel for the keys to the respective apartment they paid for. 

To compound matters, the developer was alleged to have engaged the services of hoodlums who were armed with weapons to unleash terror on the tenants, leaving so many with varying degrees of injuries. 

Speaking to THISDAY yesterday, one of the victim's who was defrauded of a whooping sum of N3million, Izuagba, called on the appropriate authorities especially the police to see that justice is done and their money returned.

He said, "The agent in question is my friend and he wanted me to pump in money to develop the land but the deal didn't work out so they brought in another developer. 

"When the developer could meet up with the financial obligations, I was called in to finance the project and then to recoup my money, the property was to be turned over to me to used as a guest house. 

"As the work progressed, I kept on giving the agent the money as agreed. I had travelled and upon coming back I went to see my supposed property only to see a crowd of people fighting over the apartment."

He said the matter was reported to the police when efforts to reason with the developer met brick walls. He said they have been meeting with the police and the accused persons to work out the modalities of getting back their money.

Another victim, Alphonsus, who was defrauded of N180, 000 being payment for one of the mini flats in the building said they made their first payment last year November and completed it in December with the hopes of moving in peacefully. 

She said, "I probably won't have known about the skirmish if someone hadn't called my attention. All I want is for the police to carry us along because we are being kept in the dark as regards investigations." 

While calling on the police to ensure that they all get back their money as agreed with the suspected fraudsters, Yusuf told THISDAY that already the sum of N2million was brought to the command yesterday but had to returned to avoid causing chaos since it was not enough to go round. 

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, promised to speak with the officer-in-charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari, on the matter.