Kemisola Oye
AN accommodation seeker Noah Oluwo, has petitioned the Zone 2 Command of the Nigerian Police Force, Onikan, Lagos, against a real estate firm, Landmark Corporate Realty Limited, and one of its realtors, Mrs. Kemi Agbelusi, for allegedly obtaining the sum of Sixteen Million, Thirty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N16, 037, 500), by false pretence.
Oluwo, in the petition written by his lawyer, Ademola Adefolaju Esq, accused both the real estate firm and the realtor of deceiving him to pay the above-mentioned sum under the pretence of selling him a 4-bedroom fully detached duplex with Boys Quarter, at Paragon Terrace & Duplexes Smart Homes, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Lekki Scheme ii, Lagos State, which was never delivered to him after the payment was made.
In the petition, Oluwo alleged that both the firm and the realtor, allocated to him a structure which was different from what they showed to him in a video used in collecting the money from him.
He also stated that upon discovery of the alleged hiatus, he asked for a change in the structure, he was told the structure shown in the video was no longer available, and that it was merely a sample intended to illustrate the type of duplex he would be allocated, adding that he was asked to pay an additional sum if he wanted the one shown in the video. This explanation, he said, made him believe that he was hoodwinked.
Upon the above scenario, Oluwo through his lawyer, Barrister Adefolaju, wrote the petition to the AIG Zone 2 Command, requesting that an independent and discreet investigation be conducted into the alleged infractions of the Managing Director of Landmark Corporate Realty Limited, as well as Mrs. Kemi Agbelusi, who he alleged to have obtained the money from him by false pretences.
Oluwo in the petition with the caption: “Petition Against Landmark Corporate Realty Limited and Mrs Kemi Agbelusi (phone number: 08025313072), For Obtaining Money Under False Pretence And Threat To Life”, reads in parts: “We act as solicitors for Mr Noah Oluwo (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and, pursuant to his instructions, we submit this petition to your esteemed office.
“Our client has informed us that he has a friend, Mr Tunde Agbelusi, based in the United States, who introduced him to Mrs Kemi Agbelusi, a purported real estate professional in Lagos, Nigeria. According to our client, Mrs Agbelusi presented herself as someone who could facilitate the purchase of a property in Lagos.
“During subsequent communications, Mrs kAgbelusi showed our client a video of a duplex and advised him to make payment to the company’s account. Acting on this advice, our client made a payment of N16,037,500.00 to the company’s account.
“However, when our client awaited the allocation of the property, he sent a representative to inspect the duplex for which payment had been made. To our client’s shock, the property shown in the video was not the same as the one he had paid for. Upon further inquiries, Mrs Agbelusi informed our client that the property shown was no longer available and was merely a sample intended to illustrate the type of duplex he would be allocated. This explanation has led our client to believe that he was misled.
“As a result of this misrepresentation, our client decided to cease further dealings with Landmark Corporate Realty Limited and demanded a refund of his initial payment. On 18th February 2025, we sent a formal letter to the company requesting the return of our client’s funds due to fraudulent misrepresentation and notified them that failure to do so would result in a formal petition for obtaining money under false pretences.
“In response, the company replied on 21st February 2025, urging our client to make additional payments in order to receive the desired duplex. Given the misrepresentation and the company’s failure to resolve the matter amicably, we are now seeking your office’s intervention
“We respectfully request that an investigation be conducted into the actions of the Managing Director of Landmark Corporate Realty Limited, as well as Mrs Kemi Agbelusi, for the alleged offence of obtaining money under false pretences. We also urge that appropriate legal action be taken against the parties involved.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter. We trust that prompt action will be taken to address the fraudulent conduct and ensure justice for our client.”
Responding to the petition, the realtor, Mrs Kemi Agbelusi, while not denying that the home subscriber contacted her for the property. She however denied the allegation of obtaining by false pretence as alleged by the subscriber.
To establish her firm’s position on the matter, Mrs Agbelusi also availed this medium of her company’s response to Oluwo’s claim prior to the petition, while also stating that the video shown to him which contained the property he claimed to have paid for, was basically for advert purposes.
The realtor’s response under the name of her Company Secretary/Head; Legal, Opelusi Olubukola, reads: “Re: Misinterpretation of Negotiated Property: Request To Refund of Sixteen Million, Thirty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N16, 037, 500, 00) only, Paid for Four Bedroom Fully Detached Duplex AR Paragon Terrace and Duplexes at Ajah, Lagos State.
“We are in receipt of your letter dated 18th February 2025 wherein you stated that one of our realtors by name; Mrs Kemi of Oasis Global advertised the above-named property to Mr Noah Oluwo who happens to be one of our clients. You also stated in your letter that Mrs Kemi represented to the client that the house which was shown at the point of inspection would be allocated to the client at the payment of the initial deposit, to which Mr Noah then went on to make a deposit of Sixteen Million, Thirty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N16,037,500.00).
“When this allocation was not done, you have gone ahead to term the transaction as a fraudulent misrepresentation. We wish to correct this position with the following clarifications;
1. Mrs Kemi is one of our seasoned realtors who is a professional with over 15 years of active practice selling real estate to clients and dignitaries within Nigeria and abroad.
2. Mrs Kemi is very much aware of the modalities of a house inspection before purchase for the purpose of advertisement and the eventual allocation of a unit to a fully paid subscriber.
3. A subscriber of a house unit is entitled to allocation at full payment of the house.
4. A sample of deliverable units can however be examined by a prospective buyer. This sample house will form the basis of what a client will be entitled to at the point of allocation.
5. We would like to excuse the statement in your letter where you termed the sale as a fraudulent misrepresentation and state unequivocally that the process of the sale was very honest and no form of misrepresentation was done.
6. We, therefore, urge the client to continue his payment schedule and be assured of a standard property as examined during the inspection will be delivered to him. V
“We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media