The Lagos State Police Command on Friday said Chibuike Azubike, who recently declared himself the ‘Obi of Lagos’ and planned to unveil a N1.5 billion palace, is not an engineer.
The police arrested Azubike alongside Chibuzor Ani, 57; Martins Nwaodika, 65; and Ikechukwu Franklin Nnadi, 41; on Saturday.
The command said the suspects had planned to unveil a prototype of a N1.5 billion ‘Palace of Obi of Lagos State’ on September 13, in the Amuwo Odofin area of the state.
The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, who stated this through a statement issued on Friday, said preliminary investigations showed that Azubike is not a qualified engineer as he had claimed but a supplier of construction materials.
Oluseyi, who said that the so-called palace unveiling was a scheme to defraud unsuspecting individuals under the guise of a grand chieftaincy project, also relayed that Azubike acted alone without any legitimate chieftaincy backing.
“Investigation so far revealed that the principal suspect, Engr. Chibuike Azubike, later confessed to the Police that he is not a qualified engineer but merely a supplier of construction materials to construction companies, which formed the basis upon which he has been parading himself as an engineer,” the statement reads.
“Further findings revealed that the planned unveiling of the ‘Obi of Lagos Palace’ was fraudulently designed as a ploy to swindle unsuspecting personalities and other Nigerians of their hard-earned money under the guise of the ‘…unveiling of the prototype of a ₦1.5 BILLION PALACE of Obi of Lagos State’.
“It was also established that the principal suspect acted alone, without the backing or recognition of any legitimate chieftaincy authority.”
The state police image-maker implored Lagos residents to disregard Azubike’s claims and social media posts.
Olohundare Jimoh, commissioner of police in Lagos, urged the public to be vigilant against fraudsters and assured that all suspects will face prosecution once investigations are concluded.
