In a dramatic turn of events, Mr. Ataba Sani-Omolori, poised to ascend to the revered position of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, is now on the run, according to reports.
The unfolding saga has exposed a deep-seated scandal involving allegations of a staggering N7 billion property fraud, which has cast a shadow over Ataba’s potential claim to the throne.
The situation has further complicated the ongoing process of selecting a successor to the recently deceased Ohinoyi, Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim.
Ataba Sani-Omolori, a former Clerk to the National Assembly and a frontrunner for the Ohinoyi title, now finds himself entangled in a legal web as he faces accusations of orchestrating the unlawful sale of a multi-million naira property that originally belonged to his late father. The alleged misconduct was brought to light through a criminal complaint filed by his sibling, Buhari Sani-Omolori.
The complaint, submitted on August 10, 2023, at the Life Camp Police Division in Abuja, accuses Ataba of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with various individuals, including property developers, to fraudulently sell a prime property.
The said property, located at Plot No. 260-Katampe Ext. District in Abuja, was reportedly acquired in the name of Mohammed Tata and Sons Nigeria Limited by Ataba’s late father.
The police report, dated December 6, 2023, with reference number AB:4099/FCT/LC/VOL.12/75, states that Ataba is evading detectives investigating claims that he illegally sold the multi-million naira property.
The allegations include that he conspired to sell the land for a fraction of its actual value without the consent of the directors of Kareem Mohammed Tata and Sons Nigeria Limited. Furthermore, the proceeds from the sale were not distributed among the original directors, who happen to be Ataba’s siblings.
According to the police, Ataba has remained “at large,” and efforts to interview him over the fraud allegations have “proved abortive.” The criminal complaint indicates that Ataba, despite knowing he wasn’t a director in Kareem Mohammed Tata and Sons Nigeria Limited, signed as a director during the property’s sale.
Ataba’s lawyer, Sani Abbas, has refuted claims that his client is avoiding arrest. Abbas stated that Ataba has been out of town and will willingly meet with the police upon his return. However, these events have added a layer of complexity to the succession process for the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, as kingmakers navigate the intricate dynamics of selecting a worthy successor amid these grave allegations.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Omolori family has faced controversy regarding their late patriarch’s properties. In 2021, the family filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking an investigation into the alleged theft of original documents of their late father’s properties. Some of these properties are located in the Maitama, Katampe, and Mabushi districts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
As the Ohinoyi throne succession process unfolds amidst these serious allegations, Ataba Sani-Omolori’s future remains uncertain, and the legal ramifications of the property fraud claims may have far-reaching consequences.
Source: THE WHISTLER