In March 2021, Ifeanyichukwu Magboh, a businessman, purchased two houses in Idu Gwari estate, Abuja. Magboh found an option he could afford and purchased the buildings in the name of his company, Tusmack Technical Company Nigieria Ltd.

The seller was Ochacho Homes, and its CEO was Mohammed Adah. Magboh signed the dotted lines and agreed to pay N55 million for each four-bedroom semi-detached duplex with penthouse and a roof garden sitting on a 300 sqm of land. Ochacho was to build from scratch after first deposit.

Based on a contract document made available to FIJ, Magboh agreed to pay a N20 million deposit on each property marked ‘SD62A’ and ‘SD62B’, then spread payment over a period of one year.

The customer completed payment for one of the properties about six months into the period, but dissatisfied with Ochacho’s building pace, he pulled out of purchasing the second building after paying N5 million deposit. His refund is yet to arrive.

“In five months, I had paid N60 million and was never satisfied, because whenever I went to inspect my sites, there was nothing to show for payments,” Magboh told FIJ. “After several arguments, I found out Adah was not sincere, so I returned documents for one property that same year and applied for my N5 million refund as they directed me in their office to do.

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“I submitted my application and returned their document in November 2021, and till now, he has refused to refund me. He kept promising but never obliged.”

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On May 23, 2022, Ochacho Homes was yet to finish building and furnishing Magboh’s house marked ‘SD62A’, but since October 2021, they had collected the documents for the second one marked ‘SD62B’.

Six months had passed since the businessman wrote to the company seeking his refund, so he went to lawyers. Magboh engaged the services of Bartholomew Nnamdi Opara and Associates to square up to Adah.

“I tried dialogue. I was hospitalised and even sent my doctor’s report, yet he promised and did nothing,” Magboh told FIJ. “That same year, I was a victim of fraud, so I lost my finances. In fact, I had to sell the ‘SD62A’ I withheld to clear debts.”

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In May 2022, the lawyers came on board and wrote to Ochacho. They also added a seven-day ultimatum.

Prior to that, Udake Chambers had written to Adah on Magboh’s behalf, but nothing had changed.

Frustrated by the development, the businessman went to the police, but despite several invitations, Adah never showed up, Magboh told us.

RIGHT OF REPLY

In early October, FIJ called Adah, but he did not respond to our calls. When he saw our WhatsApp message on October 4, he called back.

In a telephone conversation with FIJ, Adah denied knowing Magboh and denied knowledge of the deposit for a second property.

Adah said, “I know little about the transaction in question. The company does not have any business any longer with the young man in question.

“The young man in question came, bought a property from the company. After buying, he said he did not have money to pay for the property any longer. He went and resold to another person, and another person took over the property, and we are dealing with the new buyer.”

When we pressed for more answers, he directed us to Obinna Obianozie, his company’s general manager.

FIJ called Obianozie on Thursday, October 5, 2023. During the telephone interview, Obianozie started by saying Magboh sold the first property for profit and then used part of the profit to make initial deposit on the second property, but he cut himself short and said the police was investigating the matter and he could not comment.

“The matter is with the police, so they should do their investigation,” Obianozie told FIJ. “If he is charging the matter to court, he can do so.”

The general manager refused to comment further, and demanded our reporter present himself for “physical and security scrutiny before I can answer your questions”.

He also threatened to sue FIJ if we reported the matter. Obianozie said, “If you go to press, I can sue for fundamental rights too, which is within my right. I can’t answer you on the phone.

“You cannot attach documents to my WhatsApp and expect me to attend to it because you are the commander-in-chief. Do the right thing. Come so I can take you to the appropriate security quarters so they can scrutinise you, then you write me a letter. If I see my name anywhere, I will personally sue you personally [sic].”

FIJ tried calling Adah on two more occasions since then, but he did not take or return our calls.