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 ₦447 million land scam.
The arrest was carried out by a tactical team led by CSP Taiwo Oyewole on the directive of AIG Margaret Ochalla. According to police sources, Abel had been on the run for weeks before he was eventually apprehended at a hideout in Victoria Island, Lagos.
His arrest followed a petition by Doyin Investment Group of Companies, which accused him of fraudulently selling three plots of land in the Mayegun area of Eti-Osa, Lagos, under the false pretense that he owned the property. The land, located on Augustina Orji Street within the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family land, reportedly measures about 1,800 square metres.
The company claimed it paid ₦447 million for the plots after a Deed of Assignment was executed in 2023. However, it later discovered that the land was already encumbered and under third-party claims. When confronted, Abel allegedly admitted knowledge of the issue and agreed to refund the money. He made partial repayments totaling ₦230 million before defaulting on the remaining ₦217 million.
In January 2024, he signed a written undertaking pledging to repay the balance or forfeit a property in Lekki if he failed to do so. Despite this, he allegedly refused to honour the agreement and instead filed a human rights lawsuit, which authorities say was an attempt to obstruct justice.
Recovered from Abel during his arrest were documents including payment receipts, the Deed of Assignment, and written correspondence with the complainants. A senior officer revealed that he is also being investigated for alleged ties to a secret c¥lt group involved in fraud, land grabbing, and intimidation across Lagos and Ogun States.
He is expected to face multiple charges including obtaining money under false pretence, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy to defraud — offences punishable under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Criminal Code Act.
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