Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo
Real property enterprise is presently booming in Enugu. But it might probably as nicely be a burst for an investor if issues go awry. A Lagos-based businessman cum investor, Dr Basil Kenechukwu Ogbuanu was made to style the bitter facet of issues just lately.
Ogbuanu inadvertently burnt his fingers after a land transaction with a non-public agency allegedly linked to former Governor of outdated Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and his spouse Patricia.
The businessman mentioned his want to spend money on actual property improvement in Enugu State was meant as an funding “to support my retirement.”
But Ogbuanu wanted funds to actualise his dream. To overcome the monetary hurdle, he sought assist. “I took steps and applied to the Board and Management of the firm where I am a shareholder (and got) an investment loan of N1 billion in 2019,” he mentioned.
Having secured the funds to finance his deliberate mission, Ogbuanu additionally wanted land for the mission. Land was made out there on the market by Nwobodo and his spouse by way of their firm Linkana Hotels. The plot allegedly measuring about 5, 485 hectares was allotted to Nwobodo by the then Anambra State authorities in 1979. Its parcellation later yielded 22 plots of various sizes with the biggest having a price ticket of N85 million. The investor negotiated and paid for 2 plots of land marked R/18 and R/19 carved out from Plot S/10 Independence Layout Enugu.
But earlier than he paid for the plots, Ogbuanu mentioned that he had carried out his personal investigation on the State Ministry of Lands Registry.
According to him, his findings “confirmed that property Plot S/10 Independence Layout Enugu with Building Certificate of Occupancy Registration No. 27/27/1038 dated 1979 – 07 – 06 was allocated from Government of (then) Anambra State, to Linkana Hotels Limited”.
After the acquisition of the primary two plots, Ogbuanu apparently felt he nonetheless wanted extra to accommodate the scale of his deliberate mission. Since extra plots of land have been nonetheless out there on the market, he went forward and paid for 2 extra plots, specifically R/20 and R/21. He was issued with Linkana Hotels receipt for the acquisition of the extra plots like within the earlier transactions. Ogbuanu mentioned he paid a complete of N235 million for the 4 plots he purchased. That was so far as the land transaction between him and the Nwobodos ran easily, he additional alleged.
By the time Ogbuanu commenced mission improvement on the plots of lands, the language of what was supposed to be a mutual enterprise transaction turned to animosity.
Trouble erupted when Mrs. Nwobodo visited the property on January 16, 2026, in accordance to her, with some horticulturists for the aim of tree planting.”
She claimed that she had found that the gateman we employed on the property had been hijacked and keys to the property taken away from him by Ogbuanu and his cousin lawyer.
Mrs. Nwobodo was mentioned to have triggered a scene and made telephone calls to her husband claiming she had been kidnapped by folks working for Ogbuanu on the mission web site within the property.
Things spinned uncontrolled following what appeared to be misery calls by Mrs. Nwobodo. The police arrived and arrested the three constructing artisans working for Ogbuanu and clamped them into detention.
Though he was not on the mission web site on the time Mrs. Nwobodo claimed she was kidnapped, Ogbuanu was later arrested on the Enugu Airport on his method again to Lagos. The police ultimately arraigned him together with the three constructing artisans working for him.
The four-count cost most popular towards them included that the defendants, “did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs. Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 1100 hours to 1300 hours,” on the fateful day.
However, the swimsuit was later struck out on April 21, 2026 by a Chief Magistrate Court in Enugu South and Mrs. Nwobodo was allegedly slammed N1 million nice.
Meanwhile, whereas the disputation was occurring, buildings being erected by Ogbuanu, which have been already on the phases of completion have been pulled down with earthmoving gear, which in accordance to him, was introduced by Mrs. Nwobodo.
He alleged that the police have been “procured” to supervise the demolition of the buildings.
Following the large losses he incurred, together with the alleged carting away of saved constructing supplies and fittings, Ogbuanu is now combating on totally different fronts to get justice. He has filed a swimsuit at an Enugu High Court demanding a N5 billion compensation from Nwobodo and his spouse over the alleged destruction of his almost accomplished buildings and saved constructing supplies. In the swimsuit marked No. E/238/2026, the plaintiff additionally joined seven different defendants, together with three firms owned by the Nwobodos – Linkana Hotels Limited, Millennium Construction and Estate Developers Limited, and Moss Island Limited. According to courtroom paperwork, each Linkana Hotels and Moss Island are listed as presently inactive by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
On their half, Nwobodo and his spouse, who’re listed as first and second defendants, respectively within the swimsuit No. E/328/2026 are combating again. They have collectively filed a counter swimsuit towards Dr Ogbuagu claiming a complete sum of N1.25 billion for normal damages and medical bills. Nwobodo and his spouse of their counter swimsuit marked No. E/244/2025 need the courtroom to declare that, “there is no valid or enforceable sale, assignment, or transfer of any portion,” of their property to the defendant(Ogbuanu).
In their assertion of claims, the couple alleged that “the defendant through his lawyer, deceitfully paid money to (them) in respect of the purported purchase of a plot of land” inside their property. They need the courtroom to make an order “compelling the defendant to collect the purchase money paid in respect of the said land forthwith.”
Amidst the claims and counterclaims by the feuding events Senator Nwobodo and his spouse have continued to insist on refunding the cash Ogbuanu paid for the land. In their assertion of claims in Suit No. E/244/2025 filed at an Enugu High Court, the couple alleged that “the defendant through his lawyer, deceitfully paid money to (them) in respect of the purported purchase of a plot of land” inside their property.They need the courtroom to make an order “compelling the defendant to collect the purchase money paid in respect of the said land forthwith”.
In a current media interplay, Senator Nwobodo mentioned that he regretted ever listening to those who persuaded him to interact within the land transactions with Ogbuanu, “because I was warned.”
He claimed that the businessman had “secretly” moved into the property and began developed the bought plots “after we had told him from the beginning that the land title required recertification in order to get a Certificate Of Occupancy. The former governor explained that recertification became necessary because “in 1975/76 when the land was gotten, the title then was a building lease. It was in1978 that the Land Use Act introduced the issuance of Certificate Of Occupancy”.
“As an elder statesman, I have always insisted on following the due process and getting all the required approvals from the relevant ministries before embarking on any construction,” he mentioned. Nwobodo mentioned that he had defined the necessity for recertification “to Ogbuanu and to others who bought plots of land in the estate. We also made it clear that we would refund the full purchase price to any buyer who would rather not wait for these processes to be completed”.
“Whoever knows Basil Ogbuanu should tell him that I’m prepared to give him back his money, even if it is in public. Let him come and collect his money,” he declared.
Nonetheless, Ogbuanu is combating tooth and nail to get justice regardless of the calibre of the individual he’s up towards. The investor is screaming that he has been “defrauded” by the defendants, who allegedly used three totally different firms (Linkana Hotels, Millennium Construction Ltd., and Moss Island Ltd) for the land transactions.
He mentioned he made all funds for the land buy into the Access Bank account of Linkana Hotels Ltd, which was allotted plot S/10, and Power of Attorney was given to him.
While the regulation fits are pending in Enugu Courts, Ogbuanu has dragged Mrs. Nwobodo earlier than the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which she is member, as a authorized practitioner.
In his petition dated June 26, 2026 filed on the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, Ogbuanu is looking for for “investigation of allegation of professional misconduct, land fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, infamous conduct bringing the legal profession into disrepute, against Patricia Mgbenyere Nwobodo (the Respondent)”.
The petitioner mentioned that, “there are reasons to believe that Patricia Mgbenyere Nwobodo engaged in infamous conduct in the land deal by deploying two different companies wherein she has interest to obtain money from (him)”.
Ogbuanu claimed that, unknown to him, the possession of Plot S/10 Independence Layout had been transferred to one other firm, Moss Island Limited RC 328885, since March 16, 2022. Yet, Mrs. Nwobodo, in accordance to Ogbuanu, “knowing fully well” of the change within the land possession, nonetheless went forward and despatched him Access Bank Account particulars of Linkana Hotels Limited on October 14, 2022 for the aim of cost for the land buy.
He said that it was based mostly on this cost for the bought plots that he was issued receipt signed by each Nwobodo and his spouse whereas one Usman Gambo (recognized as Personal Assistance), signed as a witness. The petitioner insisted that Mrs. Nwobodo engaged, “in conduct which is unbecoming of a Legal practitioner in flagrant breach of Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners in Rules 1, 30, 47(1), 55(1).”
But the defendant in her reply to the petition denied all of the allegations levelled towards her.
In her reply Mrs. Nwobodo, who described herself as a banker and entrepreneur, insisted that the petitioner has no floor to declare that she had defrauded him. In the reply forwarded to the General Secretary of NBA by Joel Onumonu, her counsel, Mrs. Nwobodo said that each Linkana Hotels Limited and Moss Island Limited are owned by her and her husband, Senator Nwobodo. She challenged Ogbuanu to show her assertion to the opposite.
However, the petitioner mentioned {that a} search he carried out on the Companies and Allied Matters Corporate Office at Abuja confirmed that Moss Island was registered on January 31, 1998 with Pat Nwobodo, Obinna Jim Nwobodo, Obiajulu Pat Nwobodo as administrators, implying that Mrs. Nwobodo and her kids owned the corporate, unique of her husband.
The Respondent argued that “if the change from Linkana to Moss Island was done after he(Ogbuanu) conducted his search and paid for the land, and if different persons owned the two companies, he would have had a pedestal on which to stand and allege fraud against him”. Mrs. Nwobodo additionally claimed that the petitioner beguiled her and her husband to give him the Power of Attorney with Linkana Hotels because the donor so as to course of a financial institution mortgage, “pending when the Moss Island C.O. F process is concluded”.
But in his assertion of claims within the motion he instituted towards Nwobodo, his spouse, and 7 different defendants, Ogbuanu is contending that there was no foundation for refund.
This, in accordance to him, is as a result of the acquisition receipts issued to him “is evidence that there is an agreement for sale and the consideration for such sale was paid by the plaintiff to the third defendant (Linkana Hotels).”
He additional contends that Nwobodo, his spouse and the businesses used within the land transactions “by accepting financial payments by their acts amounts to sale of those property and by mutual consent”. The plaintiff argued that “the transaction over Plots R/18, R/19, R/20, and R/21 is a sale by sub-lease sales agreement, not a transaction under Power of Attorney or agency relationship (hence) he is a bona fide purchaser”.
Ogbuanu has up to now not proven any disposition to acquire a refund of the cash he paid for the 4 plots of land and stroll away with out a whimper. He has itemised all of the losses he suffered, together with the demolished buildings and destroyed or lacking constructing supplies with costs hooked up. The aggrieved investor is looking for a complete sum of N5 billion as compensation. And he desires a courtroom declaration that he’s entitled to it. How the matter can be ultimately resolved can be of curiosity to actual property traders and potential traders in Enugu. They are watching with eager curiosity.
