OBI of Lagos: Police foil installation
…Arrest four suspects
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four individuals, including a 65-year-old man who claimed to be the “Obi of Lagos,” for attempting to hold an unlawful installation ceremony.
Irohinoodua reports that the group had planned to unveil a ₦1.5 billion “Palace of Obi of Lagos State” on September 13, 2025, at Apple Hall, Amuwo Odofin.
The police in a statement on Thursday by the Commissione of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command and made available to Irohinoodua said it received intelligence about the planned ceremony and promptly sealed off the venue to prevent any breach of peace.
The Lagos Police Command in a statement shared on their official X account stated
“Our operatives were deployed to guarantee that the event did not hold as planned and to ensure public order and peace within the area were not compromised.”
The suspects, identified as Engr. Chibuike Azubike, Chief Chibuzor Ani, Chief Martins Nwaodika, and Mr. Ikechukwu Franklin Nnadi, are currently in custody at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
The police are investigating their activities and will charge them to court accordingly.
This incident highlights the growing trend of individuals falsely claiming traditional titles, as seen in a similar case in Ghana where an Igbo man claimed to be a king.
“We warn members of the public to remain vigilant against impostors and criminal elements who attempt to exploit revered cultural and traditional institutions for selfish gains,” the police said.
“Such actions are unlawful and capable of breaching the peace of the society.”
The police command reassures the public that it will continue to enforce the law firmly and decisively against any individual or group engaging in acts that undermine legality, public order, and the integrity of the State.
