Lawyer Faces LPDC Over Alleged Land Fraud as Gowon, Sultan Petition

A prominent female lawyer, Stella Oyiogu, has been summoned by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) following allegations of willful misconduct, initiated by notable Nigerian figures such as General Yakubu Gowon, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, and Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa. According to a report by SUN Newspaper, Oyiogu is scheduled to appear before the LPDC today to address accusations related to a fraudulent transfer of an Abuja plot belonging to the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA).

In addition to the disciplinary proceedings, the police have filed a five-count charge against Oyiogu and several of her alleged accomplices in the case, which involves a fraudulent land deal. The charges, filed by Abdurashid Isaku Sidi from the Legal/Prosecution section of the Force Headquarters, date back to September 27, 2024.

Among those implicated in the alleged fraud are Linus Ukachukwu, a major land developer in Abuja; Ibrahim Salmanu, who falsely claimed to be a trustee of BOBA; and Ahmed Tijani Mora, the former secretary general of the BOBA association. The case revolves around the controversial transfer of a valuable plot of land allocated to BOBA in 1983, located in the Central District of Abuja.

The land was originally held in trust by the General Gowon-led Board of Trustees (BOT), but in 2007, it was reallocated to Haida Properties, and later, in 2009, it was transferred again to Eagle Aluminum, a company owned by Linus Ukachukwu. This occurred without the knowledge or approval of the BOBA’s Board of Trustees.

In 2012, Mora, acting on behalf of BOBA, allegedly handed over the land to Eagle Aluminum, bypassing the association’s national executive committee (NEC) and the governing BOT. The matter remained unknown to the association until 2017, when the loss of the land was discovered. The BOBA leadership approached the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, who intervened and restored the land’s title to BOBA.

Meanwhile, Haida Properties and Eagle Aluminum had already begun court proceedings to develop the land, disregarding BOBA’s rightful claim. Upon learning of the issue, a new executive of BOBA lodged a petition with the police, leading to an investigation that uncovered several irregularities committed by former association officials, including Mora and Salmanu, who falsely presented themselves as members of the BOT.

The charges against the defendants include conspiracy, fraud, and misconduct. Specific charges involve fraudulent actions in court, including the submission of fake documents to deceive the court into stripping BOBA of its land rights. Among the individual charges, Oyiogu faces accusations of dishonestly representing BOBA in court proceedings in 2013, without proper authorization.

The case centers around the alleged conspiracy to unlawfully transfer the land from BOBA to private developers, and the subsequent cover-up attempts by key members of the association, including Mora. Despite these efforts, the true ownership of the land was eventually restored to BOBA. However, the legal battle continues as the accused parties face charges in the FCT High Court.