Journalist petitions police over N570,000 Lagos tenancy dispute

Francis Iwuchukwu, a Chief Correspondent with the Nigerian Tribune, has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force regarding an alleged tenancy dispute in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos State. Iwuchukwu is seeking a refund of N570,000 paid to an estate agent, Bolaji Ojo, who operates under the name Ojo’s Properties (Land and Property Consultancy).

The journalist stated that the payment, made on April 3, 2026, was intended to secure a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment. The N570,000 total covered rent, agreement fees, commissions, a damages deposit, security fees, and a cleaner’s fee. Iwuchukwu alleged that the funds were transferred into an Access Bank account belonging to Temitope Adebayo, whom he later discovered was the wife of the agent.

According to the petition filed at the Imota and Araro Police Divisions, Ojo had previously assured Iwuchukwu that electrical wiring and the installation of a prepaid electricity meter would be completed by the end of April 2026. Following the payment, Iwuchukwu reportedly entered into an oral agreement to take possession of the apartment and subsequently paid an additional N5,000 consultancy fee.