By Oscar Kambona
Former Chieftain of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ralph Obioha, has alleged that his former employee and Managing Director at his First African Trust Bank, Mr. Yomi Tokosi, has perfected plot to take over his property located at N24A Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
He disclosed further that the act was being perfected in connivance with his former lawyer, Chima Okafor, whom he entrusted the property file with when he fled into exile following the onslaught against him and other NADECO leaders by the General Sani Abacha-led military regime over its refusal of the military to swear in the winner of the 1993 presidential poll, Chief Moshood Abiola.
The second republic lawmaker said he had in 1991 acquired the land from the late sculptor, Prof. Ben Enwonwu, who gave him the power of Attorney, Deed of Agreement, Deed of Sale, and Deed of Indemnity but that Abacha’s men invaded his country home at Arondizuogu, Imo State and destroyed some of the documents, which Okafor incidentally has but has curiously refused to give to him.
Obioha said it has been a fierce battle to claim back his property from Tokosi, whom he had a Joint Venture Agreement to develop the property to an acceptable standard but who today is fraudulently twisting the agreement entered into with him.
He said he has reported the matter to FCID Alagbon as well as written a petition to the Inspector General of Police in Abuja against Tokosi concerning incidences of harassment, assault, theft, trespass, and the threat to his life and family but was yet to get justice.
Obioha said he was “shocked at the twist of event, the deception and abuse of trust as well as the obstruction and mistreatment of justice in the matter. It is troubling how the instant case in which I am the victim is being manipulated to my detriment despite there being no action on the several complaints lodged.
According to Obioha, “It is unbelievable that Tokosi has even made false claims that the land doesn’t belong to Prof. Enwonwu, but to the Lagos State government. I bought the property at 24A Ikoyi Crescent in 1991, three years before a friend introduced Tokosi to me”.
Narrating his ordeal, he said, “Political unrest rocked Nigeria following the refusal of the military to swear in Chief M.K.O. Abiola as the winner of the 1993 presidential election. The truncation of Abiola’s mandate predicated massive unrest with General Sani Abacha assuming full military powers and I, being a front liner in the struggle fled into exile in the USA for safety.
“Multi-Projects Limited continued with the construction of my property at 24a Ikoyi Crescent, reached foundation level, and had to stop as my flight to the USA which we believed will be brief turned from months to years. I didn’t return to Nigeria until 1998.
“Later, I had an agreement with Tokosi who asked me to allow him to complete the building on the basis of sharing the four units; two each to myself and himself (Tokosi). Tokosi also undertook to perfect the Certificate of Occupancy of the land and other fees.
“I had earlier handed over some documents including the agreement I had with Tokosi, to Okafor for safekeeping.
“The agreement to allow Tokosi to complete and share the building between us is today my greatest undoing. Tokosi latter rented one of the two units belonging to me (I did not sense danger then) and paid rent thrice but declined further payment while still occupying the unit.
“My erstwhile lawyer, Chima Okafor, called me when I was in the USA and announced that he will no longer act as my lawyer, that I should return immediately to Lagos and collect my property file with him.
“When I returned to Lagos after a week, I discovered that Tokosi and Okafor had concluded a plot to take over my property. Okafor refused to honour any invitation for us to meet, except once, and did not return the property file to me till date. We spoke on phone and he said there was a fire incident in his office which consumed the property file. This is a lie.
“The missing agreement which Okafor claimed was burnt in a fire incident that took place in Mr. Tokosi’s property was contrived to destroy evidence particularly the part that established things that Tokosi was to perfect the land title, build a first-class finished building of the highest standard, ensuring all building approvals are obtained and consent obtained from me before any changes will be allowed. It was convenient for all these agreements to be burnt by fire as alleged by Tokosi and Okafor.
“If there was a fire outbreak, why didn’t the duo obtain a police report of the incident? As a lawyer, why didn’t Okafor do an affidavit of facts over the incident and obtain CTC of the burnt documents and make them available to me? It was a planned scheme to take over my property. The two of them were of the mistaken conviction that if they succeeded in claiming that the documents were burnt by fire, then Tokosi will simply inherit the property. This is mischief.
“Tokosi and Okafor were aware that the enforcers of the Abacha junta invaded my country home, Arondizuogu in Imo state and carted away the title documents on my property holdings in Nigeria including the ones I received in respect of 24A Ikoyi Crescent.
“ I felt secured that my lawyer, Okafor, was in the safe custody of the original documents of 24A Ikoyi. But it is regrettable that I was betrayed. Tokosi believes that the documents to the property are out of sight, this is why he is shouting that the production of the documents is all he wants.
“It is clear today following all developments that they are out to claim my property but they will fail”.
When contacted, Tokosi said he never wished to join issues with Obioha as instructed by his lawyer since the matter will be coming up in court soonest.
“It will be better to settle it in court with all relevant proofs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chima Okafor did not respond to the text and calls placed on his mobile line for his response as at the time of filing this report.