Obi of Lagos ₦1.5Bn Palace Unveiling Was Master Stroke of Deception
Ikeja, Lagos State (September 12, 2025)
Lagos State Police have revealed that a planned spectacle—a ₦1.5 billion palace unveiling—by a man who called himself the “Obi of Lagos” was nothing but a well-orchestrated con.
Mr. Chibuike Azubike, along with three associates, was arrested as investigations showed no legitimate authority or traditional lineage was backing the claim. The police described the proposed palace ceremony in Amuwo Odofin as an “unlawful installation,” pointing out that Azubike falsely claimed credentials, including an engineering status, which was later found to be untrue. The event was halted before it could take place.
Authorities warn the public to be wary of individuals exploiting deep respect for culture and traditional titles. Officials say those caught using fake or misleading royal titles will face legal consequences.
The arrest of Mr. Chibuike Azubike has done more than uncover an audacious fraud. It has become the clearest proof of the reason why the warning from the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers against those parading themselves as Igbo traditional leaders outside SouthEast is necessary.
According to the landmark directive by HRM Eze E.C. Okeke and Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, issued well before this Lagos scandal—they declared that anyone parading in the capacity of a King of Igbo people outside Igbo land is acting without cultural legitimacy.
The Council’s position wasn’t a footnote; it was a clear cultural safeguard meant to prevent exploitation of Igbo traditions. Their communiqués, reported by multiple outlets months ago, stressed that anyone using the outlawed title was courting illegality and public deception.
These two developments—one a scam exploiting cultural symbols, the other a formal decree about who may hold cultural titles—highlight tensions around identity, legitimacy, and authority in Nigeria today. The “Obi of Lagos” scam capitalized on public reverence for royal trappings.
