One of the contestants for the seat of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi is enmeshed in a fraud allegation scandal.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigation into allegations of forgery, fraudulent conversion and obtaining the sum of N400 million by false pretense against Ogunwusi and his firm, Metropole Interproject Limited.

Rotimi Jacobs & Co. dated September 7, 2015, on behalf of Sijuwade Holdings Limited (SHL), alleging that in 1993, it purchased a parcel of land measuring 30,000 square metres from the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family at the Lekki peninsula, Lagos, and duly obtained the Governor’s Consent to the transaction.

SHL then claimed it entered into an agreement with Metropole Interproject Limited for the latter to sand-fill the land, for a fee of 7,500 square metres from the land.

After completing its job, Metropole offered to develop the remaining portion of land for SHL and the offer was accepted on the condition that the development would be in phases.

“Our client (Sijuwade Holdings) gave Mr. Ogunwusi the title document (which was in our client’s name), including the tax clearance of two directors to process the necessary permits required for the construction. After the completion of phase 1, our client requested copies of the approvals and consent, but Mr. Ogunwusi refused to provide them.

“Our client engaged the services of a town planner (TG Marchnata) to conduct a search at the offices of the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority. The town planner got copies of all the documents submitted by Mr. Ogunwusi/Metropole for the purposes of procuring the building permits for the construction.

“To our client’s surprise, the search revealed that Mr. Ogunwusi/Metropole had forged the title documents by superimposing the name of Metropole Interproject Limited as a co-owner of the parcel of land. The signature of Professor Olawoyin, SAN, who prepared the title document was also forged by Mr. Ogunwusi/Metropole.

“Mr. Ogunwusi also submitted a forged Certificate of Incorporation with the name: Metropole Interproject & Sijuwade Holdings Limited. He also forged some documents belonging to the Lagos State Government and uttered same to the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority.”

“Meanwhile, before our client got to know about the fraudulent activities of Mr. Ogunwusi/Metropole, our client had, in line with the agreement it had with Mr. Ogunwusi/Metropole, issued title in favour of Metropole and its nominees for the units due to the company.

“Apart from the forgery earlier complained about, Mr. Ogunwusi/Metropole has also sold the eight duplex units that ought to have accrued to our client and he converted the proceeds, running into N400m, to his personal use,” the petition stated.

SHL urged the EFCC to investigate the circumstances under which the title documents were allegedly forged.

Acting upon request, EFCC in a letter by Abubakar R. Madaki on behalf of the Head of Operations,with reference CR:3000/LS/EGC-1/VOL. 6/409 and dated September 17, 2015, asked the legal firm of Olawoyin & Olawoyin to confirm if the agreement allegedly submitted by Metropole for the building permits was prepared by the firm.

Responding to the request by EFCC, Olawoyin & Olawoyin stated in a letter dated September 23, 2015, clearly stated that the alleged agreement was not prepared by them and further attached the original document prepared by them.

Ogunwusi, however, denied the allegations levied slammed against him and Metropole Interproject Limited.

He said he was being targeted because of his interest in the vacant stool of the Ooni.

“Why are they trying to write damaging reports about me now and why not two, three years ago? The heart of man is full of wickedness. What they are saying is a lie; we have resolved it. They are using it to smear my name.

“Oba Akiolu (of Lagos) and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are aware of the issue. We have resolved it and I don’t know why they are doing this. It is a lie that I put Metropole Interproject Limited as a co-owner of the land; they are trying to expose what they are not; if they chose to fight dirty, I will meet them.”

 

Janeth J