BOBA land dispute: Lawyer in alleged land grabbing case wants subpoenaed

Nathan Tamarapreye

Ms Stella Oyiugo is a lawyer. She appeared before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) accused of land grabbing. She has urged the panel to subpoena a former secretary of the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) to defend her.

Oyiugo is accused of taking over the representation of BOBA without the consent of patrons of the association. These patrons include Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Sultan of Sokoto, Abuabakar Saad, Justice Mohammed Uwais, among others.

She appealed through her Counsel, Dr I.N. Nwosu, at the resumed hearing of the disciplinary committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

She appealed to the LPDC to issue subpoenas to Prof. Ahmed Mora, former secretary of the alumni association and one Ibrahim Salmanu to testify in her defence.

She said that the testimony of the duo was crucial to her defence. Salmanu was the one who engaged her to represent BOBA in court. He even swore to a witness statement as a member of BOBA BOT. This position is occupied by the likes of Gowon and the Sultan.

She also revealed that Salmanu was appointed to represent BOBA in the suit. Mora, the then Secretary General of BOBA, wrote this letter in 2013. It was sent to Eagle Aluminium Ltd, a company contending ownership of the land with BOBA.

Oyiugo stated that Mora claimed the land allocation to BOBA was revoked. Mora asked the company to defend its interest in the land dispute. The company was also asked to defend BOBA’s interest.

“However, BOBA denied the revocation of its allocation of the land as no revocation notice was served on it.”

Meanwhile, a police investigation report was filed at the LPDC. It indicted Onyiugo, Salmanu, Linus Ukachukwu, CEO of Eagle Aluminium, and Mora for conspiracy. They were accused of defrauding BOBA of the land.

The investigation report established that the letters written by Mora to Eagle Aluminium were unilateral. They were sent without the knowledge, consent, or authority of BOBA. The report recommended that the professor be charged for criminal breach of trust.

The police indicted the suspects through their investigation. They were charged in the FCT High Court in November 2024 for conspiracy. They were also charged for criminal breach of trust.

The prosecuting police officer, Abdulrasheed Sidi, filed a notice of withdrawal. He also discontinued the charge against all the suspects on April 27, 2025. He urged the Court to “end any further proceedings forthwith as directed by the complainant.”

No reasons were given for the withdrawal of the charges. An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Peter Godswill, believes that withdrawn charges can always be reinstated. This can be done according to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The criminal charges have been withdrawn. However, proceedings against Oyuigo for professional misconduct continued at the LPDC. He represented BOBA in court without authority.

However, the substantive case of ownership of the land is also pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The disciplinary committee has adjourned further hearing of Oyuigo’s case until July 16.