By Adebola Muili
A Nigerian journalist, Mr Iwuchukwu Francis, has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over an alleged apartment tenancy dispute in Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos State, demanding the refund of N570,000 he said he paid through an estate agent, Mr Bolaji Ojo.
Iwuchukwu, a member of the Correspondent Chapel of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), made the complaint in statements he gave to the police at Imota and Araro on June 8, 2026.
According to the statements, the journalist alleged that he paid the money to Ojo, who operates under the name Ojo’s Properties (Land and Property Consultancy), after engaging him over a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment in the Adamo area of Ikorodu.
Iwuchukwu said his initial discussion with Ojo took place by telephone on April 1, 2026, while they met physically on April 3, 2026, following which he proceeded with the transaction.
He alleged that he transferred N570,000 from his First Bank account at about 1:01 p.m. on April 3, 2026, into an Access Bank Plc account number 1690939511, bearing the name Temitope Adebayo, which he said was provided by Ojo.
The journalist said Ojo later informed him that the account belonged to his wife.
He explained that the N570,000 covered N400,000 rent, N50,000 agreement fee, N50,000 commission, N50,000 damages deposit, N15,000 security/CDA fee and N5,000 cleaner’s fee.
Iwuchukwu further alleged that Ojo informed him before the payment that electrical wiring in the apartment was yet to be completed but assured him that the work would be concluded before the end of April.
He said the estate agent also informed him that each apartment in the building had been allocated a prepaid electricity meter, although the meter meant for his apartment had not arrived.
According to him, he subsequently reached an oral agreement with Ojo to take possession of the apartment and commence the installation of fixtures in preparation for his relocation.
The journalist said he paid an additional N5,000 consultancy fee into Ojo’s Opay account number 7080097012 on April 23, 2026.
He said Ojo thereafter gave him a tenancy agreement form, which he completed, signed and returned.
Iwuchukwu alleged that Ojo accompanied him to the property on April 27, 2026, and handed him the keys to both the apartment and the main gate, thereby giving him access to the premises.
He said Ojo assured him that the tenancy agreement would be forwarded to the property owner for approval and that a rent receipt would subsequently be issued.
The journalist said he moved his belongings into the apartment on May 6, 2026, after informing Ojo of the development, and subsequently commenced improvement works on the property.
He alleged that he purchased and installed a solar power system on May 7, 2026, to provide electricity pending the installation of the prepaid meter.
Iwuchukwu also claimed that he spent N150,000 on painting the apartment, in addition to payments made to a carpenter for works including the construction and installation of a wall hanger, net door, repairs to the kitchen cabinet and construction of a cabinet for DSTV, GOTV and Strong decoders.
The journalist said the matter escalated on May 24, 2026, when he returned to the property and allegedly discovered that the gate leading to his apartment had been secured with a large padlock.
He said the development forced him to instruct the carpenter to suspend further work and refrain from bringing items already paid for to the apartment.
Iwuchukwu said he immediately contacted Ojo, who he alleged initially claimed ignorance of the development before later linking the matter to a disagreement over electricity supply.
The journalist has consequently demanded a refund of the monies he paid in connection with securing the apartment and sought police intervention in the matter.
Meanwhile, according to Iwuchukwu, Ojo signed an undertaking at the Nigeria Police Force, Imota, on June 8, 2026, promising to refund the money in dispute.
He, however, alleged that the undertaking had not been fulfilled as of the time of filing the report.
Iwuchukwu further alleged that an earlier promise made by Ojo at the police station in Araro to commence the refund process on June 8 had also not been honoured.
He said Ojo’s whereabouts were unknown and alleged that the estate agent had failed to respond to calls from the police.
Efforts to obtain Ojo’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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