A Nigerian-born American, Mr. Joseph Ogwuche, has accused Felix Duke Osagie of defrauding him of over N23 million in an alleged landed property deal; an allegation that Duke Osagie has debunked.
Ogwuche, an American Army veteran, accused Duke of scamming him by falsely representing that he had land for sale at the Ibeju-Lekki area and other places in Lagos State.
In his petition to the Police at the State Criminal Investigation department (SCID) in Panti dated June 5, 2024, Ogwuche stated that Duke’s farce was not noticeable at the beginning because it was carried on under the aegis of the Creative Industry Group (CIG) which Duke leads as the president.
Ogwuche alleged that Duke established CIG as an umbrella body for creative artistes in Nigeria (actors and musicians), with objectives that included catering to its members’ housing needs.
The CIG purportedly acquired a vast expanse of land named and styled the “Creative Industry Group Pacific Estate” from which interested members could buy plots to satisfy their respective housing needs.
Ogwuche alleged that while Duke marketed the land under the CIG auspices, payments were made to Duke through a different organisation, namely the Creative Industry Power Limited, with himself having significant control of the company.
Ogwuche alleged that Duke made representations to him which were to the effect that the land, being located at Ise-Akodo in Ibeju-Lekki, overlooked the Atlantic seaside; that the land is covered by a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O); that it had been configured into a layout of plots measuring 60 by 120 square meters per plot; and that a plot sold for N3.7 million.
Based on these representations, Ogwuche said, he subscribed for 10 plots of the alleged land at the price of N37 million, and by March 2022 he had paid over N22 million to Duke.
He stated however that he paused further payment to Duke after his discreet inquiry from the Baale of Ise community in Ibeju-Lekki revealed that Duke was entirely unknown to them, and that no such “Creative Industry Group Pacific Estate” exists in their ancestral land.
Responding, Duke debunked Ogwuche’s allegation of fraud against him. He said that Ogwuche, who is not a member of CIG, approached him through a member to purchase 10 plots of land from ongoing sales in their CIG Estate.
According to him, there was a mix-up with a partner company, which was also communicated to him. As a result, Duke said he offered him alternative land at Sangotedo at N15 million per plot to compensate him for the money he had paid.