The Lagos State Police Command today, Wednesday , September 10,  arrested a self-acclaimed traditional ruler who paraded himself as the “Obi of Lagos” along with three others thereby “foiling their attempt to mislead the public through an unlawful installation ceremony.”

In a statement released, the deputy spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, said the principal suspect, Engr. Chibuike Azubike ‘m’, aged 65 years, an indigene of Obodoukwu Ancient Kingdom, Ideato North LGA of Imo State, was arrested alongside three co-conspirators: Chief Chibuzor Ani ‘m’, aged 57 years; Chief Martins Nwaodika ‘m’, aged 65 years; and Mr. Ikechukwu Franklin Nnadi ‘m’, aged 41 years. 

Oluseyi said all four suspects are presently in custody at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

According to Oluseyi, intelligence available to the command indicated that the group had finalized arrangements to unveil a prototype of a purported N1.5 billion “Palace of Obi of Lagos State” on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Apple Hall, Amuwo Odofin. 

‘’Acting on this information, the police promptly sealed off the venue in order to forestall any breach of the peace and to protect unsuspecting members of the public from being misled. 

In furtherance of this preventive action, the Command deployed adequate manpower, including conventional police operatives, Eko Strike Force teams, and other tactical squads, to the premises earmarked for the ceremony. Their presence was to guarantee that the event did not hold as planned and to ensure that public order and peace within the area were not compromised.

The police imagemaker added that the suspects are currently in detention and investigation is progressing into their nefarious activities. He mentioned that the outcome of the investigation will be made public, and they will be charged to court accordingly.

His arrest comes after an Osun-based monarch vowed to file a petition over Azubuike parading himself as a monarch in Lagos.

In a telephone chat with LIB, Azubuike however argued that he is not the Obi of Lagos but the Obi of Ndi Igbos in Lagos.

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