Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, has described the N130m land fraud allegation involving her as politically motivated, insisting that the dispute resulted from an error in identifying the property rather than an intentional attempt to defraud a buyer.
Ojikutu spoke during an interview at the 2026 PR Forum/CSR Exhibition & Award, where she also denied ever misappropriating public funds or stealing from any organisation where she had worked.
The former deputy governor was declared wanted in connection with a police investigation into allegations that she and her son, Sampson, were involved in a land transaction in Lekki, Lagos, involving N130m. Earlier court proceedings allowed the police to continue investigating the allegations.
Recounting her version of events, Ojikutu said the controversy began after an agent mistakenly identified a vacant plot as property belonging to her late husband.
She explained that her late husband’s actual property was on an adjoining plot that had already been developed. According to her, the vacant plot was being offered by touts, and after her lawyer checked the land registry and found no encumbrance, she proceeded with the sale.
Ojikutu said the problem emerged when the buyer began developing the property and another person appeared, claiming ownership of the land. Further checks, she said, showed that the buyer had developed a plot different from the one that actually belonged to her late husband.
She also said the family later discovered that her late husband’s actual property had previously been sold, although she maintained there was no clear evidence that he had authorised the transaction.
According to Ojikutu, she subsequently refunded the buyer. She said the total amount involved was N120m, rather than the N130m figure widely reported at the time.
She explained that N50m was initially refunded, while the remaining N70m was later repaid.
Ojikutu further alleged that the matter was turned into a political issue because an election was approaching and she was actively involved in the campaign at the time.
She said the controversy was used in an attempt to damage her public reputation, while her son became involved because both of them were managing her late husband’s estate.
The former deputy governor also rejected claims that she fled Nigeria after travelling to the United States. She said the trip had been planned in advance for medical reasons and that she had informed the police before leaving the country.
Ojikutu added that she did not overstay her visit and alleged that attempts were made to further damage her reputation by contacting the United States Embassy and seeking her extradition.
She said she has since approached the courts in an effort to reclaim her late husband’s property.
Ojikutu maintained that she had never illegally taken money from any public institution where she worked, attributing the controversy to what she described as her long-standing opposition to corrupt practices.
Source: PUNCH
