The Lagos State Police Command stated yesterday that Chibuike Azubike, who called himself the “Obi of Lagos,” admitted that the planned installation was a scam to trick people who didn’t know what was going on.
Babaseyi Oluseyi, the command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, said this in a statement Tuesday.
Earlier reports said that Azubike, who is 65 years old, was arrested while pretending to be the “Obi of Lagos.”
The PUNCH said that he was caught on Wednesday with three other people who were allegedly helping him plan an illegal unveiling ceremony.
The police say that the group planned to show off a prototype of a fake N1.5bn “Palace of Obi of Lagos State” on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Apple Hall in Amuwo Odofin.
Oluseyi added that during questioning, Azubike confirmed that the planned exhibit was meant to trick guests into giving them money.
The suspect also allegedly admitted that he was not an engineer, as he had previously claimed, but only a seller of building materials.
“According to the investigation, the main suspect, Chibuike Azubike, admitted that he is not a qualified engineer but has been pretending to be one.”
“More research showed that the planned unveiling of the ‘Obi of Lagos Palace’ was a scam to trick people and Nigerians out of their hard-earned money,” Oluseyi stated.
He further said that Azubike acted on his own, without the support or recognition of any real chieftaincy authority.
He indicated that the suspect and his accomplices would be charged with a crime once the inquiry is over.
Oluseyi told people in Lagos to ignore false reports regarding the event and stay alert. He said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, strongly advises Lagosians not to fall prey to fraudsters like Azubike and his gang.”
At the time of writing this story, our reporter was unable to get a response from Azubike since he was still in police custody.
The arrest has sparked ethnic disputes on social media, with some saying it was not legitimate and others saying that taking on a traditional title without permission is against the law.
On April 1, 2023, the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Frederick Nwajagu, was also arrested for pretending to be a chief in Lagos without permission.
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