By Kayode Olopade
The Group Managing Director, CFL Group of Companies, Lai Omotola, has raised the alarm over an alleged sophisticated land fraud scheme in Lagos State, warning that forged property documents are being laundered through official channels to make them appear genuine.
Omotola, who spoke at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, described the alleged practice as “Land Title Laundry” (LTL), saying it posed serious risks to property owners, investors and financial institutions.
According to him, fraudsters target abandoned and high-value properties, particularly in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, fabricate historical land documents and subsequently introduce them into the Lagos State land registry.
He alleged that documents purportedly dating back to the 1970s were being prepared outside the government system and later inserted into official records through compromised insiders.
“Once the document is captured in the system, it automatically gives the appearance of an original title,” Omotola said.
He alleged that the purported owners could then declare the original document lost, obtain a police affidavit and proceed with transactions, including securing registration of a Governor’s Consent.
Omotola also cautioned against treating a Governor’s Consent as automatic proof that the Lagos State Government originally owned or allocated a property.
He explained that a Certificate of Occupancy and Governor’s Consent served different purposes, stressing that consent to a transaction did not necessarily cure defects in the root of title.
Omotola said this distinction was particularly important for banks, investors and prospective property buyers who could be misled by official-looking documents.
The CFL Group boss alleged that some banks had previously accepted cloned land documents as security for loans, only discovering the alleged fraud after borrowers defaulted and attempts were made to enforce the securities.
He recalled the demolition of a market opposite the Lagos State Government House during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, alleging that forged land documents were produced there.
Omotola, however, said land fraud had allegedly evolved from physical production of fake documents to the manipulation of official records.
Victoria Island property dispute.
He said the CFL Group was currently involved in a property dispute over 24 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where the company had commenced construction before another company allegedly arrived with policemen and claimed ownership based on a Governor’s Consent.
According to him, the opposing claim allegedly traced the property’s ownership to Samuel Oladele Ige, who was said to have sold it in 2015 to Alhaji Ganiyu Amusan, father of businessman Tayo Amusan.
Omotola said the group’s investigation uncovered what he described as serious inconsistencies in the purported chain of title.
He said members of the Ige family informed the group that Samuel Ige died in 2012, three years before the alleged transaction.
The family, he added, also stated that there was no indication in Ige’s will that he owned the property.
Omotola further alleged that Ganiyu Amusan died in 1994, raising questions about the purported 2015 transaction attributed to him.
The CFL Group GMD said further investigation allegedly uncovered a police affidavit purportedly sworn in Samuel Ige’s name in 2015, declaring that his original land certificate had been lost.
He alleged that Ige’s first son, Niyi, disputed the photograph and signature on the affidavit, saying they did not belong to his late father.
Omotola also referred to a purported letter of objection allegedly written by Ige and received by the Lagos State Land Registry on September 1, 2015, despite the claim that he had died in 2012.
He said the Ige family subsequently petitioned the Land Registry, which, according to him, investigated the matter and invited parties connected with the disputed title.
Omotola alleged that Amusan failed to honour the invitation on two occasions, while construction allegedly continued on the property.
Omotola said the CFL Group had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Registrar of Lands to deregister the disputed Governor’s Consent or face legal action.
He said the group would seek N5 billion in damages, alleging that the disputed title had been used to interfere with its possession and development of the property.
“We have not been the beneficiaries of corruption in the system,” he said, insisting that the group was seeking justice and accountability.
Omotola called for an urgent investigation into the alleged manipulation of land records and stronger verification mechanisms to protect property owners, investors and financial institutions.
The allegations could not be independently verified at the time of filing. The Lagos State Government, Land Registry and other parties named in the dispute have not responded to the specific allegations.
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