The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 65-year-old man, Chibuike Azubike, for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme under the guise of installing himself as the “Obi of Lagos.”

Azubike was arrested alongside three alleged accomplices while making preparations for a fake coronation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Apple Hall in the Amuwo Odofin area.

According to the police, Azubike confessed that the entire plan, including the unveiling of a fictitious N1.5 billion “Palace of the Obi of Lagos,” was fabricated to deceive unsuspecting members of the public and extort money from them. The suspect revealed that the purported coronation was never legitimate but rather a carefully staged scam designed to attract guests, investors, and donations.

The police investigation also showed that Azubike, who paraded himself as an engineer, had no such professional qualifications. He reportedly told detectives that he was only a construction material supplier.

“We have arrested the suspect and his accomplices, and they will face prosecution once investigations are concluded,” said Babaseyi Oluseyi, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command.

“The so-called palace unveiling was simply a front for fraud, and there is no recognition or approval of Azubike’s claims by any traditional council or authority in Lagos.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has warned residents to be wary of people exploiting cultural heritage and traditional titles to perpetrate scams. “Such fraudulent acts will be met with the full weight of the law,” he emphasized.

The police command reassures residents of its commitment to maintaining peace, security, and public order while protecting citizens from criminal deception.

READ FULL DETAILS FROM THE POLICE

UPDATE ON ARREST OF SELF-ACCLAIMED “OBI OF LAGOS” ALONG WITH THREE OTHER SUSPECTS

• Preliminary Investigation Update on Self-Acclaimed “Obi of Lagos” and His Fraudulent Activities

The Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the public of updates on the ongoing investigation into the criminal activities of the principal suspect, Engr. Chibuike Azubike ‘m’, aged 65 years, who recently acclaimed himself as the “Obi of Lagos” and announced plans for the “…unveiling of the prototype of a ₦1.5 BILLION PALACE of Obi of Lagos State…” at Apple Hall, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, 13th September 2025.

2. 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.

3. 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.”

4. It was also established that the principal suspect acted alone, without the backing or recognition of any legitimate chieftaincy authority. Members of the public are therefore enjoined to disregard his claims and other misleading publications on social media aimed at causing disaffection among the peace-loving people of Lagos. Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing, and all suspects involved will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the investigation.

5. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, strongly enjoins the people of Lagos to remain vigilant and not to fall prey to fraudsters of the likes of Chibuike Azubike and his gang. He further reassures the good people of Lagos State of the Command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining peace, security, and public order while protecting citizens against all forms of criminal deception.

DSP BABASEYI B. OLUSEYI
DEPUTY POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
LAGOS STATE COMMAND
IKEJA

SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

A tense standoff on the Third Mainland Bridge on Monday has ended, with the Lagos State Police Command confirming that order has been restored after residents of the Oworonshoki community blocked the highway in protest.

The demonstrators, who are occupants of unapproved buildings along the Iyana Oworonshoki coastline, took to the bridge after their homes were demolished on Saturday by a combined enforcement team of the Lagos State Government.

According to reports, the residents had been served a one-month quit notice but refused to vacate, prompting the demolition exercise and subsequent protest that triggered gridlock across the busy corridor.

Providing an update on his social media account, the Command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, confirmed that normalcy was restored after Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, personally visited the scene to address the protesters.

“Calm has been fully restored on the 3rd Mainland Bridge after the swift intervention of CP Olohundare Jimoh. The Lagos Police Commissioner ensured safety and order, and reopened the road. Traffic is now flowing smoothly,” Oluseyi wrote.

Traffic has since resumed, but the incident has reignited debates around housing rights, urban planning, and forced evictions in Lagos State.

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A violent clash broke out in the Mandilas area of Lagos Island on Wednesday, leaving one person confirmed dead after a stabbing incident.

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that a suspect has been arrested and that normalcy has been restored to the busy commercial hub.

How It Happened

According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation began as an argument between two young men over the sharing of money from a job. The heated exchange quickly escalated, and one of the men allegedly stabbed the other during the scuffle.

The victim was rushed for medical attention but later died from his injuries.

Police & Community Reaction

Bystanders reportedly descended on the suspect, beating him severely before handing him over to the police. Security operatives were swiftly deployed to the area to prevent further violence.

However, tensions heightened when friends of the deceased expressed anger over the incident, sparking minor skirmishes in the vicinity. Many traders and shop owners shut down abruptly as panic spread across adjoining streets.

What’s Next

While calm has since returned to Mandilas, authorities have not released the full identity of the victim. Police say investigations are ongoing and have assured residents that further updates will be provided.

VIDEOS

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BONA NAIJA – The Police in Lagos State have provided further updates in a case involving a popular Nigerian Pastor, Paul Adefarasin.

It could be recalled that a viral video had captured the pastor pointing a gun-like object at another Nigerian, in what was considered an intimidation. 

Many Nigerians reacted angrily, urging the police to take action and not to treat it with levity. 

It has now been confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command that the clergyman turned himself in for investigation. 

The Police also confirmed that the gun-like object has been recovered. 

In a statement on its official X handle on Tuesday, the command identified the object as a stun gun, classified as prohibited anti-riot equipment.

It added that Adefarasin was interrogated and gave a cautionary statement to investigators.

According to the statement, “Pastor Paul Adefarasin, who turned himself in today at the Lagos State Police Command over a viral video where he was seen holding a gun-like object against another road user, was interrogated and he volunteered cautionary statement to the police investigators.

“What was recovered from him, the gun-like object seen in the viral video, is not a lethal weapon or firearm but a stun gun which is a prohibited anti-riot equipment.

“The pastor has been granted bail while investigations continue into the case.”

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A student of Yaba College of Technology was shot dead on Tuesday in a suspected cult-related attack, sparking fresh concerns over the rising tide of cult violence in Lagos State.

The yet-to-be-identified student was killed near the back gate of the campus shortly after completing his examinations for the day.

It was gathered that the victim was accosted by a group of young men who pulled out a gun and shot him twice at close range.

However, the assailants fled the scene immediately, leaving the victim in a pool of blood.

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The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the attack.

The spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the shooting was linked to a cult rivalry and that investigations are ongoing.

“On Tuesday at about 3 pm, a distress call was received at Sabo Division that a suspected cultist was allegedly shot dead by a group of suspected rival cult members in the Yaba area,” Hundeyin said in a statement.

“Upon receiving the report, a patrol team was swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the deceased was found lying in a pool of his blood. On close observation, visible marks of violence suspected to be bullet wounds were seen on the body while four rounds of live ammunition and some charms were recovered from the deceased’s pocket at the scene. The corpse has been evacuated and deposited in the morgue for autopsy,” he added.

The gruesome killing is the latest in a string of cult-related violence across Lagos. Just a day earlier, a 16-year-old boy identified as Mustapha was killed by a stray bullet during a suspected cult clash in the Oyingbo area of Ebute Metta.

In a related incident, residents of Idimu were shocked to discover the bodies of two men on Sunday morning, one of whom had been beheaded.

The victims were reportedly killed in a cult attack that took place late Saturday night along Oladun Road.

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