In September 2022, Matilda Bulama (not real name), a Lagos State-based journalist, bought two plots of land from Maon Homes, a real estate service provider.

Speaking with FIJ, Bulama said she decided to make the purchase after Onochie Okwusogu, one of Maon Homes’ sales representatives, marketed the plots of land to her in 2020.

“I bought the two plots of land from Maon Homes at their Victoria Court 3 Estate in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos through Onochie Okwusogu, one of its sales executives,” said Bulama.

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“One of the plots was bought in my name and the other, in my mother’s name.

“Each plot cost N1,314,000 and I made a payment of N2,628,000 for both. Besides this, I also paid a legal fee of N200,000 and another N1.2 million for survey plan. In all, I made a total payment of N4,028,000 to Maon Homes.”

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PAYMENT WITHOUT DOCUMENTS

Bulama told FIJ that problem started when Maon Homes would not issue necessary documents showing she is the owner of the plots, after she completed payment.

“After Maon Homes refused to avail me with the property documents, and in a shocking event twist, I was told that the particular property I paid for was no longer available,” Bulama said.

“Maon Homes then added that I would be assigned to another property. Interestingly, the possibility of this new but strange arrangement was never made known to me at any point in time. They never mentioned it before I made full payment for the two plots of land.

“I subsequently reached out to both Okwusogu and Maon Homes to register my displeasure and my refusal of change of location of property, but till we speak, both parties have not done anything to revisit the matter.

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“The two emails I sent to Maon Homes, requesting communication and an amicable resolution of the issue, were also merely acknowledged without the provision of a response on the subject matter of communication.”

Despite the emails and the reminders Bulama sent to Maon Homes, she never got any favourable response from the real estate company.

A HOSTILE OKWUSOGU

When FIJ phoned Onochie Okwusogu, the sales representative that facilitated the land purchase for comments on the matter, he was quite hostile in his response.

“Okay, so what do you want?” asked Okwusogu when he was asked on the way forward on the matter.

“I can’t speak on the matter. I am only a marketer, you understand? She said that she sent a letter to the company. So, there is a department that will answer her. I am not in the media department. I am only a marketer.”

When Okwusogu was asked to assist with the contact details of the department that could comment on the matter, he refused to.

“It is not my job to do so. It is your job, not mine,” said Okwusogu.

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When FIJ explained to him that it would be helpful if he, as a staff, could assist with the appropriate channel that could provide explanations on the matter, he said:

“Ehen? And so? I must not. It is your job to look for who to talk to in the company, not my job.

“When she was making payments, she made payments to the company, not me. My brother, see, please, go and do your job as an investigative journalist.

“Brother, see, ehn, I also worked in the media. You don’t just call me and start talking. Do you get? I also worked in the media. The person who introduced her to me [sic]… I spoke with the guy. I don’t know why you are calling me up and down and you are beginning to ask me… [sic]… must you even call me? Is it because I picked your call?”

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NO RESPONSE FROM MAON HOMES

FIJ made several phone calls to Maon Homes’ official phone number for comments on the matter on July 28, but they were not answered.

An email and a text message sent to the firm on that day had also not been responded to.

MAON HOMES DIRECTORS

Further checks carried out by FIJ showed that Maon Homes, a company registered on July 3, 2017, has Douglas Okojie, Chibuzo Tony Okonkwo and Ifeoma Nkechinyelu Okonkwo has its directors.

Douglas Ehiabhi Okojie is registered as the company’s secretary, while Chibuzo Tony Okonkwo and Ifeoma Nkechinyelu Okonkwo are the company’s main shareholders.

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FIJ was also able to establish that Chibuzo Tony Okonkwo is the Chief Executive Officer of the company.