By Our Special Correspondent
Court documents filed before the Enugu State High Court have revealed allegations that a former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, and his wife, Dr. Patricia Nwobodo, used multiple companies to allegedly defraud a property investor, Dr. Basil Kenechukwu Ogbuanu, of over ₦235m in a disputed land transaction.
The document obtained by this news medium showed that the dispute is the subject of two separate suits before the court.
In Suit No. F/328/2016, filed by Chukwudi Obieze (SAN), Ogbuanu is the plaintiff, while Chief Nwobodo, his wife, Linkana Hotels Limited, Millennium Construction & Estate Developers Ltd, Moss Island Limited, and several individuals are listed as 1st to 9th defendants.
However, in a separate suit, No. E/244/2025, filed by C.M. Agbo Esq., Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo and Senator Jim Nwobodo are the plaintiffs, while Dr. Ogbuanu is the sole Defendant. In the suit the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that there was no valid or enforceable sale of any portion of their estate to Ogbuanu.
They also asked the court to compel him to collect the purchase money and vacate the land, insisting that his presence on the property constituted trespass.
However, Ogbuanu, a Lagos-based businessman, and Chief Executive Officer of Energy FM radio based in Enugu, in his statement of claim, avowed that he began the transaction or purchase of the landed property in 2021 after being introduced to plots of land at Independence Layout, Enugu.
According to him, the land was initially marketed through Millennium Construction & Estate Developers Ltd, which issued offer letters and received payments.
The document stated, “The plots are of different sizes… the one above 1000 sqm was ₦85 million.”
After making payment, the plaintiff (Ogbuanu) said he was issued allocation papers and receipts for the plots.
However, subsequent transactions were allegedly carried out through another firm, Linkana Hotels Limited, in which the Nwobodos were said to have interests as shareholders and directors.
The plaintiff later discovered during a search at the Ministry of Lands that the property had already been transferred to another company, Moss Island Limited.
A source familiar with the case told our Correspondent on Friday that, “When we went for search in the land ministry, we found out that the entire estate had been transferred to Moss Island in 2022.”
The source added that despite this transfer, additional plots were sold using Linkana Hotels Limited.
“So all the sales done in the name of Linkana had no authority because the property belonged to another company,” the source alleged.
Payments And Ownership Claims
The court filings showed that Ogbuanu paid over ₦235m for multiple plots, including R/18, R/19, R/20, R/21 and R/22.
The document stated, “The plaintiff paid the sum of ₦235,000,000 in respect of the plots.”
He also claimed that he was issued powers of attorney and receipts confirming the transactions.
The plaintiff maintained that he acted in good faith and relied on documents provided by the defendants.
The dispute intensified when the Nwobodos filed Suit No. E/244/2025, denying the validity of the transactions.
Part of their claim reads, “A declaration that there is no valid or enforceable sale, assignment or transfer of any portion of the plaintiffs’ estate to the defendant.”
They also sought an order compelling Ogbuanu to collect his money and vacate the land, alongside claims for damages.
A source close to the matter criticised the move, saying, “After collecting money through different companies, they are now saying the buyer has no legal rights.”
Arrest And Criminal Charges
The matter later escalated into a criminal case following a complaint allegedly made by Mrs. Nwobodo.
According to the documents, Ogbuanu and his workers were arrested and arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Enugu in Charge No. MES/22C/2026.
“The officers whisked the plaintiff’s workers away,” the document stated.
The plaintiff was also arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and charged alongside his workers.
The Magistrate Court struck out the four count charges on April 15.
The court also awarded N1 million in costs against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, following her repeated failure to appear in court to lead evidence in the case.
Presiding Magistrate, His Worship D.K. Ekoh, delivered the ruling at the Enugu South Magisterial District, citing a lack of diligent prosecution.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants were alleged to have conspired on January 16, 2026, at Patin-Son Estate, Independence Layout, Enugu, to unlawfully confine and detain Mrs. Nwobodo and a police officer, Constable Ugwu Emmanuel, against their will.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants assaulted Constable Ugwu by beating him all over his body.
However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
Nnadozie informed the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defense as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
He said, “A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in his luxury home without prosecuting his complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against.”
Alleged Demolition Of Property
The plaintiff (Ogbuanu) further alleged that his buildings on the land were demolished after he had obtained necessary approvals and commenced development.
He told the court that he secured building permits and paid all required fees before starting construction.
But in January 2026, the situation changed. “The second defendant (Patricia Nwobodo) visited the site and caused a scene,” the document stated.
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Following the incident, the plaintiff and his workers were arrested.
In February 2026, he alleged that his buildings were pulled down.
“It came to the knowledge of the plaintiff’s sister that the buildings had been demolished,” the filing read.
The destruction allegedly continued in March, with claims that police officers were present during the exercise.
“The defendants brought police officers and earthmoving equipment to continue the demolition,” he alleged. He also claimed that building materials worth millions of naira were carted away from the site.
Claims For Damages
Ogbuanu is seeking compensation for the alleged losses.
The court documents showed that he is demanding among others:
“Over ₦820m as special damages for destroyed property and materials. ₦5bn as general damages for emotional and psychological distress.”
On their part, the Nwobodos are seeking damages running into billions of naira, including: “₦20m for medical expenses. ₦1bn as general and aggravated damages.”
Meanwhile, Nwobodo has dismissed the claims, stating that the dispute stems from unauthorized building activities and a breach of estate regulations by the cleric.
According to the former governor, who spoke with our correspondent, the situation escalated on January 16, 2026, when his wife visited the estate with a landscape architect and a police orderly for a routine inspection.
Nwobodo alleged that the team was prevented from leaving the premises after the estate gates were locked.
“My wife and the group were subjected to a tense situation. The police officer accompanying them was physically assaulted and his uniform was torn,” Nwobodo stated. He added that a police intervention was eventually required to rescue the group and secure the premises.
Nwobodo disclosed that following the confrontation at the estate, Ogbuanu was apprehended by police operatives at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport while attempting to travel to Lagos.
The cleric was subsequently taken to the Independence Layout Police Station and later arraigned in court over allegations including illegal construction and property-related offences.
Nwobodo maintained that Ogbuanu had proceeded with building activities despite being informed that titles were undergoing certification due to changes in government land use regulations. He noted that he had even offered the pastor a refund, which was declined.
The former governor expressed disappointment over the allegations leveled against his wife, insisting she had acted in good faith to resolve the estate’s management issues.
“I am at a loss as to why Ogbuanu would implicate my wife. She has been supportive, yet he has repaid her by falsely accusing her of involvement in the demolition,” he said.
Nwobodo further alleged that investigations revealed the cleric had ignored several government directives to halt unauthorized activities within the estate, causing concern among other residents.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing for both suits, as investors and property developers watch for to see the outcome of the cases.
