National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By: Okosun Dennis
Against some media reports that Mr Murphy Adebare, the Chairman of Topaz Gardens was arrested and billed to be charged to court, he has called on members of the public, especially his clients to disregard such concoctions orchestrated by people that don’t wish him well to disparage his person and cause a crack in his thriving business.
Debunking the allegation levelled against him by some faceless individuals in a telephone conversation, he explained that he has neither been in the hiding for three months as insinuated nor arrested and charged by the police.
“I am in my office doing my job. Nobody arrested me. I am enjoying myself. You can come around,” Murphy explained.
It was widely reported in some online platform on Wednesday about his arrest, detention and preparation to be dragged to the court.
In the reports, it was reported that a police source in Lagos, who asked not to be named revealed that Murphy will be taken to court on Wednesday over charges of land grabbing, fraud, forgery and criminal trespass.
The report further added that Murphy was arrested after an investigation into allegations made by Eyin Osa Committee established by the Lagos State Government to manage land acquired for the Lekki Free Trade Project.
It was gathered that the committee allegedly accused Murphy Adebare of using government-acquisition land or land already allocated to others to defraud unsuspecting buyers through his company, Topaz Gardens.
Murphy Adebare further stated that: “It came as a shock to me after I read some reports on social media and fake news platforms that I was arrested over land meant for Lekki Free Trade project.
“The shameful thing was that the report was based on an imaginary police source. I can tell you for fact that it is fake news. I am speaking to you from my comfort zone. I was never arrested nor dragged to court. All a particular committee did was to gather fake news operators to spread lies in order to malign my reputation.
“For the sake of due process, I have contacted my lawyers. A statement would be issued soon to clear the fake news.
“I am a man of integrity and the truth shall prevail.”
It would be recalled that a couple of years ago, Murphy Adebare had allegd that agents of the state confiscated his land at Ibeju Lekki, a land he had obtained his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), demolished part of his property and sold it to an individual, making him lose over a billion which led to over 48 staffers losing their jobs.
Also, at Sangotedo, his land was also grabbed and sold to a Pastor in Redeemed Christian Church of God. Some of these cases are still lingering and unresolved.
