Police: Self-Styled ‘Obi of Lagos’ Confessed Installation Was a Scam

The Lagos State Police Command says Chibuike Azubike, the man arrested for parading himself as the “Obi of Lagos,” has admitted that the planned installation was nothing more than a fraudulent scheme to swindle unsuspecting participants.

The command’s Deputy PRO, Babaseyi Oluseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Azubike, 65, was arrested on Wednesday alongside three alleged accomplices while preparing for an unveiling ceremony at Apple Hall, Amuwo Odofin, where they intended to showcase a prototype of a ₦1.5bn “Palace of Obi of Lagos State.”

According to police, Azubike confessed during interrogation that the event was staged to deceive guests into parting with money. He also admitted that contrary to his earlier claims of being an engineer, he was merely a supplier of construction materials.

“Findings showed that the so-called ‘Obi of Lagos Palace’ unveiling was designed as a ploy to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. The suspect is not backed by any legitimate chieftaincy authority,” Oluseyi stated.

He added that the suspects remain in custody and will be prosecuted upon conclusion of investigations.

The police urged residents to remain alert against impostors seeking to exploit cultural institutions for personal gain.

Meanwhile, the arrest has stirred ethnic debates online, with some questioning the legitimacy of the crackdown, while others argued that assuming a traditional title without recognition is both illegal and misleading.

This is not the first case of its kind. In April 2023, Frederick Nwajagu, the self-styled “Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate,” was arrested for similarly parading himself as a traditional ruler in Lagos.