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By Bayo Davids
An America-based Nigerian engineer, Mr. Anthony Ugbebor, has opened his defence in a disputed N152 million property transaction before the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, insisting he paid for two luxury flats with his life savings only for the developer to later deny the payments.
The suit, LD/4471LM/2023, was filed by property developer Mr. Olukayode Olusanya and his firm, Oak Homes Limited, seeking declarations of trespass and other reliefs over two second-floor apartments at 14A Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
At the resumed hearing, Ugbebor, represented by Mr. Nasiru Salau, adopted his witness statement and tendered several documents admitted as Exhibits DW1 A–J. Justice Akingbola George permitted him to introduce evidence supporting his amended counterclaim, in which he asks the court to dismiss the developer’s suit and order the immediate handover of the two flats.
Ugbebor told the court he paid N152 million—about 80% of the agreed N190 million purchase price—between November 2017 and December 2020. He said problems began on October 11, 2022, when his representative visited the property and was informed that Oak Homes had “no record” of his payments.
He said, “On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, I asked my representative to go and inspect the progress of the property. When he called Olukayode Olusanya, he was given Linda Umeh’s number. After speaking with her, they agreed to meet the next day, October 12, between 1 and 2 p.m.
“Later that day, Linda called my representative and informed him that the COO of the company had called her and notified her that they had no records of my transaction to the property. This is after payment of 80 per cent of N152m, out of N190m, which is equivalent to $400,000.”
Under cross-examination by the claimant’s counsel, Mr. Adeleke Agboola (SAN), Ugbebor confirmed petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after suspecting he had been defrauded and receiving alleged threats to his life. He acknowledged that Olusanya was detained following the petition but said he rejected any attempt at repayment, maintaining that he wanted the flats delivered.
He also confirmed reporting the matter to the police at Zone 2 Command and later to the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged threats, but denied writing to the Ghana chapter of Transparency International describing the developer as a murderer or thief. According to him, he merely questioned why an integrity award was given to someone he believed had acted without transparency.
Ugbebor affirmed that the contract stipulated delivery by February 28, 2019, a target that was not met. He acknowledged awareness that the Lagos State Government sealed the site in 2019 and that the COVID-19 pandemic and rising construction costs affected the project, but argued that these did not justify withholding his units.
The engineer testified that at an EFCC-facilitated meeting on August 28, 2023, the developer claimed the flats had been sold—an assertion he disputes. He further alleged that estate agents informed him in 2024 that the same flats were being marketed at significantly higher prices, ranging from N310 million to N560 million.
Responding to a suggestion that he received or approved a partial refund amounting to N102 million, he said the claim was “absolutely false,” adding that he was in New York at the time and never authorised any refund.
While he admitted that his lawyer filed a counterclaim, he said he could not recall receiving a “cease-and-desist” order reportedly issued by Justice Ogunjobi on August 24, 2023, restraining him from visiting the property.
When questioned about his confidence in the judiciary, Ugbebor expressed “absolute trust” in the Nigerian court system.
Counsel for the EFCC, Mr. M. A. Sheu, declined cross-examination. Justice George adjourned further hearing to January 20, 2026.