INTRODUCTION
The Nigerian real estate market is no stranger to controversy, but when a high-profile figure like Major Hamza Al-Mustapha — former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State General Sani Abacha — becomes entangled in a double land sale, it raises serious concerns about land verification practices in the country.
Watch the full video on Youtube:
At EncumberedProperties.com, our mission is to expose real estate frauds and educate buyers on how to safeguard their investments. The Lekki Phase 1 property scandal involving Major Al-Mustapha is a classic example of why every investor must go beyond surface-level checks before buying any property.
THE LAND IN QUESTION
According to investigations, the disputed property is located at Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State. Major Hamza Al-Mustapha reportedly sold this same plot of land to two different buyers:
In 2005 to a US-based medical doctor, Eze Obidigwe, and
In 2015 to Alex Ochonogor.
A police investigation report confirmed that the double sale occurred, stating:
“Investigation carried out to date clearly established that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha was in 1994 allocated a plot of land in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State, and he sold the same plot of land to two persons claiming he was misinformed by his lawyer.”
The police, however, noted that it is beyond their jurisdiction to determine ownership of land. As a result, Dr. Obidigwe has taken the matter to the Lagos State High Court (Suit No: LD/592/LM/2025).
LESSONS FOR PROPERTY BUYERS
This situation highlights a painful truth — land registry search alone is not enough. Many buyers (and even some lawyers) assume that a simple search at the land registry guarantees ownership authenticity. Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth.
Fraudulent sellers can manipulate documentation, sell encumbered properties, or even duplicate title papers. Without deeper due diligence — including physical inspection, verification of signatures, survey plan authentication, and ownership history tracing — a buyer can easily become trapped in lengthy and costly legal battles.
ENCUMBEREDPROPERTIES.COM’S SOLUTION
To help investors avoid such pitfalls, EncumberedProperties.com has developed a step-by-step guide titled:
“7 Steps to Acquiring a Clean Property Title: A Practical Checklist.”
This comprehensive guide explains:
- How to confirm if a property is genuinely free and unencumbered.
- The exact documents you must demand and how to verify each one.
- How to identify red flags in land transactions before making payment.
- Real-life fraud scenarios and how to avoid them.
Our goal is simple — to ensure that every Nigerian home buyer and investor has the tools to make safe, informed real estate decisions.
Encumbered Properties also provides a full range of due diligence and advisory services designed to protect your investments:
- To be part of your Negotiation Team (Either Virtually or On Ground): Send us a mail.
- For your Mortgage Options, Services and Facilitations: send us a DM
Every service is designed to give you clarity, confidence, and control before making any property decision.
CONCLUSION
The ongoing legal battle over Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Phase 1 serves as a serious warning. If a former high-ranking officer can fall into such controversy, any investor can too — unless proper due diligence is carried out.
Don’t let “had I known” be your story. Protect your investment before it’s too late.
Visit EncumberedProperties.com today to get your copy of “7 Steps to Acquiring a Clean Property Title” and learn how to safeguard your property journey from fraud.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY:
Madueke Enwere
A Real Estate Lawyer, Chief Superintendent of Police and by God’s Grace, The Founder ENCUMBERED PROPERTIES DOT COM (the only real estate frauds prevention platform)
ABOUT ENCUMBERED PROPERTIES:
Encumbered Properties is Nigeria’s trusted real estate due diligence platform dedicated to protecting investors, buyers, and developers from fraud, invalid titles, and hidden land disputes.