Alleged real estate syndicate in new fraud petition, accused of midnight invasion in Lagos

A Lagos-based real estate syndicate, allegedly led by Lawrence Onwukwem and Isaiah Ijele, has been dragged into fresh controversy following a petition accusing the group of fraud, illegal eviction and violent intimidation, even as key members remain in hiding following a court conviction.

The syndicate, which reportedly operates under the name Green Birch Tech Limited, along with partners Davies Ijele, Sodiq Kazeem and Peace Igbo, is accused of defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians through dubious property rental schemes.

In a recent petition, a Lagos resident, Oyinkansola Talabi, accused the group of orchestrating a nighttime invasion of her apartment at Pebblerock Apartments in Oniru area of ​​Lagos State on February 6, 2026.

Talabi, in the petition addressed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu through the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, described the incident as “state sponsored terror”, arguing that the action breached an existing order of the Lagos State High Court issued on December 3, 2025, in Case No: LD10108GCM2025.

The latest allegations mirror earlier complaints from residents of a 16-unit apartment complex in Lekki Phase 1, who had accused the same company of illegal entry, theft, harassment and threats to life.

The property, owned by RAO Investment Property Company Limited, had been leased to Green Birch Tech Limited before disputes arose over the company’s continued occupation of the facility.

Despite a court ruling that ended Green Birch’s tenancy, affected tenants said the company had resorted to acts of intimidation, including cutting off water and electricity supplies and harassing residents with armed men.

Findings showed that a Lagos Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Eti-Osa had earlier convicted Onwukwem, Ijele, Kazeem and Igbo of contempt of court.

In the case marked MISC/MCE/07/2023, the court found that the defendants had illegally evicted a tenant by forcibly breaking into an apartment in Lekki, removing personal belongings and changing the locks without a valid court order.

Delivering sentence on June 5, 2025, Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Olaiya Doja-Ojo sentenced the defendants to six months imprisonment and imposed a fine of 250,000 naira each for persistently disobeying court orders.

However, checks revealed that only Kazeem is currently serving his sentence at the Ikoyi correctional centre, while the other convicts were apparently in hiding.

One of the victims alleged that while the dispute was still ongoing, members of the syndicate raided their apartment and took away property worth about N25 million before re-renting the apartment to another tenant.

Sources familiar with the matter further said that Ijele, who is said to be the Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, may have exploited political connections to evade arrest.

He is also said to have recently launched a non-governmental initiative, the Police Integrity Movement, and has appeared on television programs promoting the group.

Attempts to reach the defendants for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, stakeholders called on relevant authorities to enforce court rulings and bring fugitive suspects to justice, warning that continued impunity could undermine public confidence in the state justice system.

‘

Want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need advertising for a product, service or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Please donate any amount HERE