EXCLUSIVE: How DIG Margaret Ochalla Allegedly Shielded Estate Executives Accused Of Over N28.5million Fraud, Ordered Arrest, Abduction Of Petitioners

According to sources familiar with the matter, Nwankwo was arrested in Lagos by two police officers identified as ASP Kingsley and Inspector Rindap Zingkur. 

Multiple sources have alleged corruption and abuse of power within Nigeria’s police hierarchy, claiming that Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Margaret Ochalla intervened to shield executives of the Happyland Estate Landlords’ and Residents’ Association accused of siphoning over ₦28million in estate funds, while also ordering the arrest and abduction of two whistleblowers.

The petitioners, Emenike Nwankwo and Godfrey Omenal, who had initially raised the alarm over financial irregularities within the Lagos-based estate, were reportedly arrested in controversial circumstances and transported to Abuja, where they were detained under questionable conditions.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Nwankwo was arrested in Lagos by two police officers identified as ASP Kingsley and Inspector Rindap Zingkur. 

He was subsequently taken to Abuja and detained at a notorious SARS facility, raising concerns about due process and abuse of police powers.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the controversy began when a formal petition alleging fraud and misappropriation of estate funds was submitted while Ochalla was serving as Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon Annex in Lagos.

At the time, she reportedly approved an investigation into the allegations.

However, the situation allegedly took a dramatic turn after her promotion.

“Immediately after she was elevated, she turned against the petitioners,” a source disclosed.

“Despite investigations already conducted by the Nigerian Police which indicted several executives, she allegedly ordered the arrest and detention of the same whistleblowers who brought the complaint.”

A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the police investigation reportedly identified multiple estate executives who received funds from the association’s accounts.

Among those listed were Barrister Chinweikpe Iwuchukwu, who allegedly received N2,649,000; Temitope Akinwande, N15,985,100; Quasim Babatunde Aseyori, N200,000; Kingsley Ahanotu, N500,000; Oladoyin Ishola, N386,000; Eze Bonaventure Okahia, N3,470,000; Hyacinth Eze, N2,000,000; John Maduka, N378,000; Ezeugonnaya Uzochukwu, N35,000; Shola Adenaya, N1,000,000; and Osinachi Emmanuella Amugo, N28,515,700.

Another source alleged that key suspects, including Iwuchukwu, Hyacinth Eze, Quasim Aseyori Sulaimon, and Eze Bonaventure Okahia, were initially scheduled to be arrested and arraigned over the alleged fraud.

“But DIG Ochalla reportedly intervened,” the source said. “She called the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Yunusa Yahaya, and the prosecutor, SP Clinton Onovo, instructing them to withdraw the case or risk losing their jobs.”

A police investigation report dated November 10, 2025, and signed by DCP Ibrahim Jibrin at the FCID Alagbon Annex, appears to corroborate parts of the allegations.

The report stated: “Investigation into the matter reveals that the sum of Twenty-Eight Million Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Seven Hundred Naira (N28,515,700) was diverted from the estate accounts and not the alleged Eighty Million Naira.”

The document further detailed the allegations: “A petition of conspiracy, fraudulent misappropriation of funds, stealing, diversion of estate funds and conducts likely to cause breach of public peace dated 17th of September 2025 was approved and referred to the office for investigation.”

It added that the estate chairman, Hyacinth Eze, allegedly worked with the estate manager, Osinachi Amugo, and other executives to divert funds from two accounts: a First Bank security levy account and a development levy account.

The report stated: “It was discovered that the estate manager was used by the chairman and some of the executives to siphon the estate funds by using Estate Manager First Bank Account 3052232960 to transfer money from the estate account which she later redistributed to other executives’ personal accounts.”

Investigators also found that several executives received funds without executing any development projects in the estate.

However, the report recommended further action: “It is the recommendation of this office that an external/independent auditor be engaged to carry out forensic audit on the Happyland estate accounts to ascertain the level of the executives’ involvement.”

One of the petitioners, Godfrey Omenal, who was also arrested and taken to Abuja, narrated his ordeal in a detailed account.

“So we, some of us, have been calling for accountability. And they started using the police to oppress us,” he said. “I have been locked up three times.”

He added, “The last time was even the 18th of March. And I speak to you today like this, now the police is looking for me.”

Omenal explained that residents had independently developed the estate without government support and demanded accountability when new executives allegedly refused to account for funds.

“We built our own estate. We have no government presence per say. Everything—roads, construction—we did it ourselves,” he said.

He noted that the original petition alleged N80 million in missing funds but police investigations later confirmed about N28.5 million.

According to him, tensions escalated after the investigation report was released.

“They tried to retrieve the CTC from me. They threatened me. But my lawyer told me it was already a public document,” he said.

He alleged that the case was reassigned and a second investigation even found a higher discrepancy.

“At the end of the day, they came out with their own reports. This time it wasn’t N28 million, it was about N32 million,” he claimed.

Omenal further alleged that suspects used financial influence to frustrate the case.

“I can tell you, we know the one who spent N3 million, the one who spent N5 million, just to make sure that case doesn’t go anywhere,” he said.

He recounted a dramatic courtroom development where a suspect was arraigned but released after alleged intervention.

“Immediately, I was told Margaret Ochalla called them, that if they don’t withdraw the case, they will lose their job,” he said.

Omenal described his arrest as an abduction.

“They ran me off the road while I was driving my kids. To me, that was actually abduction,” he said.

He added that he was taken to Abuja without explanation.

“They refused to tell me my offence. Before I knew it, I was at the airport,” he said.

He also alleged that he was forced to pay N200,000 before being released.

“Before they released me, they collected N200,000 from me. I have the receipt,” he said.

Meanwhile, his co-petitioner Nwankwo remains in custody after being transported to Abuja by road, according to sources.

Omenal claimed the arrests were part of a broader plan to silence them.

“They wanted to arrest us during the holiday, take us to Abuja, and quickly charge us so we would be remanded,” he said.

He also alleged that officers involved gave conflicting identities.

“They said they are from TIU, FCT Command, FCID Abuja, even IGP Monitoring Unit. We don’t really know where they are from,” he said.

Despite the risks, Omenal insists the fight is about accountability.

“What I want is simple—let the law take its course,” he said.

He revealed that petitions have been submitted to higher authorities, including the Inspector-General of Police, but no response has been received.

“We have written, we have called, nothing has been done,” he said.

As allegations of police interference, corruption, and intimidation mount, the case has stirred renewed concerns about the integrity of investigations involving influential individuals.

When SaharaReporters contacted DIG Margaret Ochalla, she did not answer her phone nor respond to the messages.