A Nigerian medical doctor based in the United Kingdom, Dr Eze Obidigwe, has explained why two different investigation reports emerged from the Force Criminal Investigation Department over the disputed Lekki property linked to retired Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Sani Abacha.
Obidigwe, who is a party to the matter, claimed that the other party instigated a second round of investigation after the initial report indicted them.
Saturday PUNCH had earlier reported that the Special Enquiry Bureau and the General Investigation Section of the Force criminal investigation department, Alagbon, Lagos, carried out separate investigations on the land dispute over the past two years.
The SEB, in its 28-point report dated November 15, 2023, and signed by its head, Godwin Eze, stated that the land numbered 36/36/1994w was allocated to Al-Mustapha who reportedly signed two separate Deeds of Assignment/Form C1, and transferred the same land to both Alex Ochonogor in 2015 and Continental Properties, through which Obidigwe later acquired it.
The report said, “It is crystal clear that a case of conspiracy, forgery, illegal Encroachment and Contempt can be established against Barrister Adebayo Akeju, Alex Oshonogor and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.”
But, the GIS, in its 23-page report dated June 13, 2025, and signed by its head, Muhammed Dahiru, said Al-Mustapha never transferred the land to Obidigwe.
“That the investigation revealed that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha did not sign Deed of Assignment and transferring of land ownership of Plot 10, Block 133, Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos to Obidigwe Eze ‘m’, only signed for Continental Properties and Alex Ochonogor as stated by Barrister Abdulfatai Alao Thomas and Barrister Adebayo Akeju both representatives of CSO, Major Al-Mustapha,” the GIS stated.
However, Obidigwe, in a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH by his media aide, Akinwole Opeyemi, described the SEB panel investigation as “thorough” but tagged the GIS report “wishy-washy.”
He said the SEB conducted a thorough investigation which led to a five-count charge against Ademola Owolabi, Akeju and Ochonogor before Justice Serifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court.
Obidigwe faulted the GIS process, arguing that its investigators failed to invite critical witnesses, verify official documents, or secure any evidence to counter the SEB report.
He said the GIS team relied mainly on the statements of the defendants and their associates, while overlooking material facts such as a subsisting 2016 court order and Al-Mustapha’s repeated denials of ownership.
“The GIS investigators never confirmed the genuineness of the Demolition Notice from the Lagos state Ministry of Lands, which was the alleged issuer, but only relied on the statements of the defendants and their procured witness.
“The GIS investigators did not confirm the genuineness of the Memorandum of Loss and Affidavit of Loss of Original Documents from the Ministry of Justice before forming an opinion to clear the defendants of forgery charges.
“The GIS investigators did not secure a single documentary evidence to contradict SEB’s findings in the initial investigation, yet they gave a report exonerating the defendants,” Obidigwe stated.
He further claimed that Al-Mustapha himself had written a protest letter accusing one of the defendants of selling the property without his consent, a position the GIS investigators failed to reflect in their final report.
