For six years, businessman Michael Ezedike has stood alongside a thousand others in courtrooms, hoping for justice.
They are seeking justice following an alleged real estate scam involving a company, Livelihood Homes Limited, popularly known as “De Villa” operated by Kelly Nwogu.
But justice, they say, remains elusive.
"We are crying and smiling," Ezedike tells our correspondent in an interview, his voice heavy with frustration.
“This matter has not been going well since five years. We have been going to court, and the court is willing to hear our matter. But the prosecutor is our problem”, he said.
Ezedike, who now leads a support group called United Voice of the People, made of the aggrieved land buyers, says the prosecutors handling the fraud case have repeatedly failed to present evidence or engage with the aggrieved land buyers, resulting in years of adjournments and emotional exhaustion.
“We are stranded. Please, we want you people to come and help us. As it stands now, we are losing it”, he stated.
Many of those affected had paid for parcels of land through Livelihood Homes Limited as far back as 2019 only to discover the transactions were allegedly fraudulent. Since then, they have taken legal action, demanding either the land or a refund.
But six years on, the court case has dragged on without resolution.
“In some cases, the judge will be the one telling the police lawyer what to do. The judge has said several times that the police are not doing their job.” One of them blurted.
“People are even dying. Some of us have lost our lives in the cause of this case,” said another aggrieved land buyer.
The Elusive Defendant
Kelly Nwogu was first arrested in 2019, shortly after the allegations came to light. He was later granted bail, only to be re-arrested after allegedly failing to attend multiple negotiation meetings. Though re-arrested, he was later granted bail once more.
In 2023, frustration over his repeated absences peaked. A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued a bench warrant for his arrest and revoked his bail after his lawyer, C.P.A. Gbaeze, told the court that Mr. Nwogu declined to appear.
The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Pam, granted the bench warrant at the request of prosecuting lawyer F.D. Sokari, who added that further charges would be filed.
Despite the court’s actions, Kelly Nwogu was later seen promoting real estate ventures under a different company name. He has denied defrauding any clients and rejected claims of bail jumping.
A System Under Strain
The affected land buyers' accounts reflect broader concerns about the legal process. Repeated delays, absentee prosecutors, and procedural lapses have left many feeling abandoned by the justice system.
REDAN Responds
In the wake of the situation, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has urged the public to be more cautious.
REDAN’s Rivers State Chairman, Ory Martins, emphasizes the importance of verifying a developer’s legitimacy before committing to any land deals.
“We’ve not received any formal complaints from the aggrieved land buyers,” Martins said.
“But our doors remain open. Anyone who has issues with any developer should feel free to report to us”, he said.
Martins, who also heads Boeing Luxury Estate, noted that only 30 of over 60 developers operating in Rivers State are officially registered with REDAN. He said the association works closely with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to ensure that only verified and ethical developers advertise property sales.
“All documents issued by my own estate carry the REDAN seal. This ensures traceability and authenticity”, he added.
Martins warned the public to beware of enticing offers such as “buy one, get one free” land deals, calling them potential red flags for fraud. He advised buyers to always ask if a developer is part of a registered professional body and to conduct independent due diligence.
He also pointed to a pending bill at the National Assembly, which, if passed, will mandate all real estate developers in Nigeria to be members of REDAN and adhere to a strict code of conduct.
“This will help reduce cases like the De-Villa matter,” he stated.
The Road Ahead
For those affected, hope is a fragile thread tied to delayed court hearings and elusive justice. Their demands are simple: a refund or delivery of the promised land.
“We are crying. We are dying,” one woman said. “If there is anybody, anywhere, that can help us, please come.”
As they wait, the case of De Villa remains a stark reminder of the gaps in Nigeria’s real estate regulatory framework and the lives left hanging in the balance.
Police have remained silent on this even when we reached out for comments.
