Lagos developers on the run, defraud 100 tenants of N50m

WHAT began as a mutual transaction between unsuspecting tenants and two sweet talking ‘property developers’ in Lagos, has ended in a monumental fraud which is currently being investigated by the police.

The developers identified as Messrs Samuel Adeniyi Ogundana Aka Prince and  Adetayo Olatunbosin were alleged to have defrauded about 100 prospective tenants of  about N50 million being monies paid to rent the apartment located at No. 8, Igbesa Street, off Ashimowu Bakare Street, Itire, Lagos.

The apparently dazed victims who are yet to come to terms with what has befallen them, have cried out for help to track down the suspects who have disappeared into thin air.

Vanguard Metro, VM learnt that the controversial property has residential apartments which include mini-flats and self-contained rooms.

*Stranded victims

The victims who came at different times to inspect the apartments and pay the rents, realised too late that the developers had given the apartments to over 100 persons.

After the initial battle over rights of possession to the apartments by the now conned victims, the case was immediately reported to the Itire police station.

The victims are however unhappy with the way the case is being handled by the Itire Police Division, Area D Mushin Command and S-Squard Lagos State Police Headquarters. They  have therefore written a petition to the Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, seeking his immediate intervention.  Copies of the petition were also sent to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos office and the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi.

In the petition signed by Uche Arinze, Innocent Odenga and John Odiete on behalf of the other victims, they accused Mr. Samuel Adeniyi Ogundana Aka Prince, his brother Adetayo Olatunbosin and Alhaji A.K Salami (landlord of the property) of duping them under the pretense of giving them rented accommodation on No. 8, Igbesa Street, off Ashimowu Bakare Street, Itire, Lagos. The petitioners accused the developer and landlord of working hand-in-hand in the plot.

“We, the undersigned, wish to draw your attention to a lingering case of fraud being perpetrated against us after exploring all legitimate means by way of involving the police officers which we are afraid may have been compromised and are handling this case with levity.  It is out of frustration and disappointment that we have decided to cry out for justice by writing officially to you,” the petition read in parts.

They alleged that their ordeal in the hands of Ogundana, Olatunbosun and A.K Salami began in July last year.

According to them, “Mr. Samuel Adeniyi Ogundana Aka Prince, alongside Mr. Adetayo Olatunbosun who are developers contracted by Alhaji Salami, the owner of a property on No. 8, Igbesa Street, off Ashimowu Bakare Street, less than five minutes walk from the Itire Police Division, put up ten apartments in  a property up for rent whilst still undergoing renovations supervised by their company as they claimed to be developers. We, the undersigned saw the property at different times and without knowledge of each other, paid monies into bank accounts provided by Mr. Samuel Adeniyi. Some of us also paid cash and were issued receipts by Mr Olatunbosun”.

One of the  victims Uche Arinze made available copies of receipts issued by Ogundana to all the victims which bears the company name, Alpha Enterprise, as well as a bank account and GSM numbers of the developers.

Alhaji Salami who spoke through his lawyer admits to hiring the developers, would not say more than this because “the matter is now under police investigation”.