Nigerdock Nigeria Plc Liaison Officer Abayomi Oyewole Lands In EFCC Over Alleged N500m Fraud

 MICHAEL AKINOLA

The petition, dated 12th May, 2026, was written on behalf of the community by their solicitors, E. Omo-Egbekuse & Co., and addressed to the Zonal Director, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal Directorate, No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

In the petition, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, the community members, represented by Mr. Moses Olayiwola, Mr. Rilwan Adisa, Mr. Olalekan Olayiwola Olaleye, Mr. Ahmed Olayiwola Olaleye, Mr. Idris Olaifa, Mr. Wasiu Olaifa and others, claimed to be the rightful owners of vast parcels of communal land situated at Igbologun, Igboseyore and Igbosu communities within Snake Island, Apapa, in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to the petitioners, Nigerdock Nigeria Plc acquired and currently occupies the said parcels of land and had agreed, after series of meetings between the management of the company and leaders of the various affected communities, to pay monetary royalties and compensation for the acquisition and occupation.

It was the petitioners’ claim that it was jointly agreed by all parties that a total sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) would be paid as compensation into a joint account to be opened and recognized by the leaders of the three affected communities.

The solicitors stated that their clients specifically instructed that the money should not be paid into any other account not opened and recognized by the community leaders.

However, the petitioners alleged that Mr. Abayomi Oyewole, described as a liaison officer of Nigerdock Nigeria Plc, in conjunction with one Mr. Adamson Lateef Oluwo, opened what they termed a fraudulent account and received the entire sum therein, abandoning the community-recognized account where the money was expected to be paid.

The account in question was identified in the petition as Account Number: 1001036528, with Account Name: Igbologun, Igboseyore & Igbosu Community, domiciled with Lotus Bank.

Giving a breakdown of the alleged lodgements into the disputed account, the petitioners claimed that N200,000,000 was paid on 8th December, 2022; N50,000,000 was paid on 30th July, 2024; N100,000,000 was paid on 31st July, 2024; and N150,000,000 was paid on 5th February, 2025, bringing the total to N500,000,000.

The community members further alleged that the suspect converted the entire sum, which was meant for the respective land-owning families and communities, to his personal use.

“Our clients informed us that as it stands now the suspect has converted the entire N500,000,000 to his use, money meant for the community for their land taken over by the company,” the petition read in part.

The petitioners are therefore, praying the anti-graft agency to investigate the activities of the suspect and bring him to book in accordance with the law. They added that evidence of the said payments has been attached to the petition for ease of investigation.

The solicitors concluded the petition by expressing their highest assurances of esteem to the EFCC Zonal Director.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the development has generated tension within the Snake Island axis, as members of the affected communities insist that they are yet to receive any compensation several years after their ancestral lands were taken over for industrial use.

Some community leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that efforts to resolve the matter internally proved abortive, necessitating the petition to the EFCC for a thorough and independent investigation.

They maintained that the alleged diversion has deprived many families of their livelihoods, noting that the land in question served as their major source of economic sustenance before its acquisition.

Legal experts say if established, the allegations could attract charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering under the EFCC Act and other relevant laws.

As at the time of filing this report, efforts to get the reaction of Mr. Abayomi Oyewole were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to known contacts were not responded to. The EFCC is also yet to issue an official statement confirming receipt of the petition or commencement of investigation.

Our correspondent will continue to monitor developments on the matter as the anti-graft agency is expected to act on the petition in the coming days.