Cuffs Snapped, Justice Mocked, As ₦800M Land Scam Kingpin Bolts From Police Custody In Broad Daylight

In a stunning breach of police security that has sent shockwaves through Delta State and beyond, Anwulika Benson Okafor—a prime suspect in a sprawling, court-defying land fraud running into hundreds of millions of naira—has escaped from lawful police custody after slipping out of handcuffs and vanishing into a crowded area while being transported by detectives from Force Headquarters, Abuja.

A Daring Escape at a Fuel Stop
According to police sources, the escape occurred when the officers briefly stopped to refuel their vehicle. Unknown to them, Okafor had wiggled free of his restraints, quietly opened the vehicle door, and bolted into a crowd before the escort realised what had happened.

His son and another suspect, Michael Odiashi, were swiftly restrained and prevented from escaping. Okafor, however, remains at large.

The Land, the Judgment, the Defiance
At the heart of the scandal is land at Olloh (Oloh) Ogwashi-Uku, approved by the Obi-in-Council—under the authority of Obi of Ogwashi Uku—for the establishment of the Anioma University of Science and Technology, a project widely seen as transformative for education and development in the area.
Dissatisfied with that approval, a group led by Charles Obinga instituted a suit at the Delta State High Court, Ogwashi-Uku, claiming the land as community property. After a full trial on the merits, Hon. Justice Akpovi entered judgment in favour of the Obi, upholding his lawful ownership of the land. The decision was never appealed.

Execution followed.
On the authority of Hon. Justice K. O. Okpu, a writ of possession was issued and lawfully executed with support from officers attached to Nigeria Police Force and Force Headquarters. A Certificate of Possession was subsequently issued to the University’s trustees, including the Obi.
₦800 Million in Illegal Sales—After Judgment.

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Despite the subsisting judgment and completed execution, community and police sources allege that Obinga, Okafor, his sons, Odiashi, and others embarked on a brazen resale of the same land, disposing of over 1,500 plots to land merchants for more than ₦800 million in deposits.
One transaction alone—documented in a deed allegedly signed by Charles Obinga, Benson Okafor, Michael Odiashi, and Emmanuel Ojeogu—purported to sell 902 plots for ₦451 million to Realtormax Project International Limited (Maryland, Lagos). Other entities reportedly involved include Zina Gardens Estate, among others.

Violence, Guns, and Intimidation
Investigators allege that proceeds from the illegal sales funded lavish parties, ostentatious spending, and—most alarmingly—the recruitment of armed thugs and enforcers. These groups are accused of storming the land, firing gunshots, chasing away caretakers and security staff, and destroying valuable property belonging to the proposed University and the Palace.
Community sources further allege that Okafor financed an extravagant harvest and thanksgiving at his church shortly before his arrest—an event locals say was meant to flaunt illicit wealth and intimidate dissenters.

Community Outrage and the Manhunt
Voices from Akunakehe Ogwashi-Uku have unequivocally condemned what they describe as open contempt for the courts and a calculated attempt to sabotage a University project critical to local development. There are also claims—now under investigation—that the suspects may have compromised elements of local law enforcement.
Police sources confirm that fresh arrest warrants have been issued by a court in Abuja for the escaped suspect. A nationwide manhunt is underway, with intensified efforts to re-arrest Okafor, round up the recruited thugs, and bring all participants to justice.

The Stakes
Beyond the audacity of the escape lies a deeper crisis: the rule of law under siege, a court judgment flouted, and a public interest project placed in jeopardy by greed and violence. For residents, the question is stark—if a suspect can snap cuffs and disappear, will justice still catch up?
Police insist it will.