The Lagos State Police Command has exposed a shocking palace scam allegedly masterminded by a 65-year-old man, Engr. Chibuike Azubike, who brazenly paraded himself as the “Obi of Lagos.” Police say Azubike attempted to dupe unsuspecting Nigerians through an elaborate ₦1.5 billion fake palace unveiling before his dramatic arrest in Amuwo Odofin.
Azubike, arrested alongside three accomplices, had allegedly set plans in motion to host a bogus installation ceremony on September 13, 2025. According to police investigations, the so-called palace unveiling at Apple Hall in Amuwo Odofin was nothing more than a fraudulent ploy designed to extort money from dignitaries and unsuspecting members of the public.
Police spokesperson DSP Babaseyi B. Oluseyi revealed that Azubike confessed he was neither a certified engineer nor a traditional ruler, but a mere supplier of construction materials. “The suspect admitted to fabricating his identity to deceive Lagosians and create the illusion of legitimacy,” Oluseyi said.
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The investigation confirmed that Azubike acted without the recognition or approval of any legitimate traditional authority in Lagos State. Authorities warned the public to disregard his claims and misleading social media posts promoting the fake ceremony.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, assured that the suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded. He urged residents to remain vigilant against similar schemes and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting citizens from criminal deception while safeguarding peace and public order across the state.
The scandal has since gone viral, sparking outrage and ridicule across social media as many Nigerians react to the audacity of a man attempting to crown himself “Obi of Lagos” with a billion-naira palace that never existed.
