Juliana Francis
A concerned Apostle Godwin John of Royal Life Christian Church, located in Iyana Ipaja, has appealed to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to rescue his brother-in-law, Engineer Emmanuel Paul Oloche, from what he describes as a conspiracy orchestrated by a Lebanese national, some allegedly unscrupulous policemen and Mr. Rilwan Adetola Nola of A.R.N Foods Limited.
According to John, the only offence committed by Oloche was his attempt to ensure proper construction practices were followed to prevent building collapse and potential loss of life.
As a result, Oloche’s contract was unceremoniously terminated by his client, Nola. The Lebanese subsequently took over Oloche’s uncompleted Rice Mill Project, and he was repeatedly arrested, first by the Area J Police, Lekki/Ajah, then by Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, and later by a police team from Area 10, FCID, Abuja. He was detained at Ikoyi Police Station and subsequently flown via Ibom Air to face interrogation at Area 10, FCID, Abuja.
John expressed shock at the initial arrest, which stemmed from a dispute over a building plan that had been approved by the Lagos State Government.
The Lebanese allegedly insisted on implementing an unapproved plan. Before long, the disagreement escalated into something more sinister, with Oloche being dragged from one police station to another.
John recounted that he took food to Oloche while he was detained at the Ikoyi Police Division. The following day, Oloche, along with Builder Eric Nkwocha and quantity surveyor Adebayo Odusote, was escorted to the airport by a police team and flown to Abuja for questioning.
Incidentally, Builder Nkwocha, who was arrested along with Oloche, works for Nola.
Securitynewsalert.com contacted Oloche after he was granted and returned to Lagos. He narrated the origin of his ordeal: as a contractor, he was hired by Mr. Rilwan Adetola Nola of A.R.N Foods Limited to build a rice mill along the Epe axis of Lagos State.
The project was underway when Nola introduced a Lebanese consultant to take over duties from his former project manager, Builder Nkwocha, who was still actively involved. Trouble began when the Lebanese reportedly challenged construction elements that had already been approved by the Lagos State Government.
“He said he would change the drawing already approved,” said Oloche. “I told him that any changes must first go through the proper government approval process. He responded by questioning the authority of Lagos State, claiming its approvals have led to building collapses. Then he proceeded with piling work that was misaligned and could cause structural issues. The ASBUILT, Lebanese pilings are not following the alignment in their design drawing. This is where we have displacement in their pilings for the column point. Our ASBUILT is plotted out by my land surveyor, Tunde, a registered land surveyor.”
On March 11, 2025, Nola called a meeting and brought two men who presented ID cards, claiming to be police operatives from FCID, Abuja, and arrested Oloche on charges of misappropriating funds.
“Nola and I had a signed agreement stating that any disputes would be settled through arbitrators,” said Oloche. “But instead, the Lebanese evaluated the site and told Nola that we shouldn’t have spent up to ₦200 million, even though I’d spent over ₦750 million. Nola had only provided ₦600 million, with a balance remaining. The Lebanese alleged I defrauded Nola of ₦500 million.”
Oloche, Nkwocha, and Adebayo were taken to the Ikoyi Police Division, where they gave statements and were detained. The next day, 12th of March, they were flown to Abuja, where they were taken to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) at Area 10, FCID.
Without any questioning, a female officer in AIG’s office, Adenike Ali, ordered them locked in a cell. Two days later, on March 15, they were brought out for an interview.
Oloche said he saw Nola casually chatting with the AIG. After everyone shared their account, Nola admitted before the AIG that much of the information revealed that day was new to him.
The AIG stated that he would withhold judgment until a quantity surveyor from the Federal Ministry is engaged to assess the project.
Bail was granted upon payment of ₦500,000, and Oloche returned to Lagos by road.
Securitynewsalert.com also heard from Oloche that Nola engaged external surveyors from Lagos, not Abuja, contrary to police claims. After their evaluation, the report was given directly to Nola rather than the AIG.
Oloche began asking questions, and only then did the report begin moving toward official channels.
He asked his Investigating Police Officers (IPO), Onuche Yakubu and Aji Bakari, about the result of the external surveyors, and they responded that it was yet to be officially delivered to them. Meanwhile, Nola terminated Oloche’s contract.
Oloche described Nola’s actions as unjust and said he has been unable to work since. His tools were seized and are reportedly being used by the Lebanese at the rice mill site. He alleged that Nola was taking advantage of his wealth and influence.
Suppliers who had provided materials to Oloche on credit, expecting payment once Nola balanced the accounts, reported Oloche to Area J Police and Zone 2 Police, compounding his distress. He was arrested by both police formations.
Sounding exhausted, Oloche said, “Since March, when Nola terminated my contract, he has refused to return my equipment, even the signboard approved by the Lagos State Government is still there.
“At the very least, Nola should give me back my equipment. Let the Lebanese use their tools! It’s clear they want to destroy me; they’ve taken everything! I want the Lagos State Government to know what is happening. I’m pleading for help from the Governor and the IGP. The police keep harassing me daily with calls from FCID, Abuja, Zone 2 Police, and Area J Police. I’m traumatised. I don’t know what to do.”
Contractor Defrauded Us, Nola Alleges
When Securitynewsalert.com reached out to Nola via phone to hear his side of the story, a lady, who said her name is Juliana, working for Nola, picked up the call. After listening to the reason for the call, she promised to get back.
A few minutes later, she called and asked that the questions be sent via SMS.
The reply from Nola reads thus: “He was a contractor on our project, and he defrauded us. We terminated his contract and reported him to the police. The case is currently running. If you need to find out anything, kindly contact the Police PRO FCID.”
Acting on Nola’s directive, Securitynewsalert.com reached out to Funmi Eguaoje, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), on July 29, 2025. Upon request, details of the investigating officers, their contact information, and the unit handling the case, Special Enquiry Bureau, were provided. Despite follow-up communication the next day, July 30, Eguaoje did not issue any response.
Securitynewsalert.com also contacted the Ikoyi Police Station, where Oloche, Adebayo, and Nkwoch were detained on the 11th of March before being transferred to Abuja the following day.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Chief Superintendent of Police Arit Abang, however, explained that she assumed office at the Ikoyi Division on the 18th of March, days after the incident.
According to her, inquiries made among station personnel yielded no recollection of the matter.
Pastor Shocked As Police Deny Detaining Trio, Taking To Abuja Via Flight
Apostle Godwin John, who previously spoke with SecurityNewsAlert.com, expressed shock over the police’s denial regarding the arrest of Oloche, Nkwocha, and Adebayo.
According to him, the suspects were detained at Ikoyi Police Station before being taken to the local airport, where they boarded an Ibom Air flight.
The pastor stated that he was unaware of the reason behind the police’s denial. He delivered food to Oloche at the station and accompanied them to the airport before returning home.
Supporting his account, flight records from Ibom Air confirmed that five individuals boarded the 3:00 PM flight from Lagos to Abuja on the 12th of March, 2025. The passengers were listed as Mr. Bakari Aji, Mr. Onuche Yakubu, Mr. Adebayo Odusote, Mr. Emmanuel Paul Oloche, and Mr. Eric Nkwocha, whose name appeared as “Nkocha” on the ticket.
Mr Aji and Yakubu are the police operatives who came from Abuja to arrest and investigate an incident that took place in Lagos.
This raises an unsettling question: how did the police obtain ₦650,000 to fly these suspects from Lagos to Abuja, excluding costs for the police team’s initial travel to Lagos, accommodation, and meals, especially considering that Lagos State is the rightful jurisdiction for the case?
The Role of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA)
Armed with purported approval documents from Lagos State of both Paul and the Lebanese contractor, the reporter first visited the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) office in Ipaja, Alimosho. There, she was redirected to the agency’s office at the Old Secretariat in Ikeja.
LASBCA is tasked with regulating building standards to ensure safety, health, and environmental integrity. Its responsibilities include issuing authorisations for the commencement of construction following the acquisition of development permits, inspecting and certifying various stages of building construction, and other related functions.
At LASBCA, Ikeja, the reporter was referred to the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), and subsequently to the Monitoring and Compliance Unit.
Officials at the unit explained: “We deal strictly with building plans. Only one of the submitted documents shows approval, and it’s for a structural plan, not a complete building plan. The other document is merely a drawing. If there’s any need to modify the approved structural plan, fresh approval from the government would be required.”
The Role of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS)
The external surveyors who evaluated the disputed rice mill were said to be from the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Lagos Branch. The team comprised QS Douglas Onyemah and QS Charles Onyibe.
Securitynewsalert.com contacted the NIQS Lagos Branch, but the woman who answered the call advised that a formal letter be written and submitted to the Lagos office. She also recommended that an email be sent to the Head Office in Abuja.
A Freedom of Information request, dated July 30, 2025, was sent to the President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) in Abuja and copied to the Lagos office.
Securitynewsalert.com is still awaiting a response.
Nola’s Former Project Manager Speaks Out on Construction Dispute
Builder Eric Nkwocha, a former project manager with Mr. Rilwan Adetola Nola of A.R.N Foods Limited, has spoken out on the controversy surrounding the rice mill project owned by Mr. Nola.
Nkwocha, who played a central role in selecting and supervising the project’s contractor, described a chain of mismanagement, funding delays, and broken agreements. He explained that Mr. Nola had initially commissioned him to identify a qualified contractor for the project. After vetting several candidates, Nkwocha recommended Mr. Paul Oloche, and a contractual agreement was subsequently finalised.
The contractor was engaged with milestone-based payments and a clear timeline for completion. However, delays in the disbursement of funds severely impacted progress.
“There were times when Paul had to wait weeks, even up to a month, before receiving payments,” Nkwocha recalled.
Despite these setbacks, the contractor issued formal notifications warning management that project deadlines were at risk and that he would not be held responsible for any missed targets.
Technical complications also arose. Nkwocha revealed that the original design provided by foreign consultants omitted drainage planning. Moreover, the contractor was not permitted to inspect the site in advance. Upon arrival, several unexpected issues required additional work. Although these changes were documented and submitted to management for approval and payment, Nkwocha alleges that the submissions were ignored, and Oloche was never compensated for the extra work.
“He completed about 75% of the foundation,” Nkwocha stated. “Even though he had received full payment for the initial scope, he had to reallocate those funds to cover unforeseen tasks arising from design flaws and management directives.”
Instead of resolving these issues through dialogue, Nkwocha claimed that Mr. Nola introduced a new contractor—reportedly a Lebanese national—to review the site, escalating tensions and worsening the conflict.
Nkwocha emphasised that the project had received full clearance from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA). Nonetheless, he said Oloche’s work was condemned—first quietly, then publicly.
According to Nkwocha, Mr. Nola disregarded professional evaluations and engineering protocols by dismissing Oloche and filing a petition against several team members, including the contractor, alleging financial misconduct. This move led to their swift and dramatic arrest: the team spent a night at the Ikoyi Police Station before being abruptly transferred to Abuja under questionable circumstances.
The case was later escalated to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), who requested an independent evaluation led by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). Nkwocha claimed that this process was also riddled with irregularities—evaluation reports were delayed, selectively shared, and ultimately handed directly to Mr. Nola instead of the supervising authorities.
“The contractor, Paul, was barred from continuing the job, which was reassigned to the Lebanese firm with questionable standards,” Nkwocha said. “Despite their claimed international experience, the new contractor allegedly delivered inferior work and unstable foundations.”
Nkwocha concluded by saying that Paul is now financially strained, having had his contract terminated, and that he was dismissed from the project, while still awaiting payment for outstanding wages.
The contractor was engaged with milestone-based payments and a clear timeline for completion. However, delays in the disbursement of funds severely impacted progress.
“There were times when Paul had to wait weeks, even up to a month, before receiving payments,” Nkwocha recalled.
Despite these setbacks, the contractor issued formal notifications warning management that project deadlines were at risk and that he would not be held responsible for any missed targets.
Technical complications also arose. Nkwocha revealed that the original design provided by foreign consultants omitted drainage planning. Moreover, the contractor was not permitted to inspect the site in advance. Upon arrival, several unexpected issues required additional work. Although these changes were documented and submitted to management for approval and payment, Nkwocha alleges that the submissions were ignored, and Oloche was never compensated for the extra work.
“He completed about 75% of the foundation,” Nkwocha stated. “Even though he had received full payment for the initial scope, he had to reallocate those funds to cover unforeseen tasks arising from design flaws and management directives.”
Instead of resolving these issues through dialogue, Nkwocha claimed that Mr. Nola introduced a new contractor—reportedly a Lebanese national—to review the site, escalating tensions and worsening the conflict.
Nkwocha emphasised that the project had received full clearance from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA). Nonetheless, he said Oloche’s work was condemned—first quietly, then publicly.
According to Nkwocha, Mr. Nola disregarded professional evaluations and engineering protocols by dismissing Oloche and filing a petition against several team members, including the contractor, alleging financial misconduct. This move led to their swift and dramatic arrest: the team spent a night at the Ikoyi Police Station before being abruptly transferred to Abuja under questionable circumstances.
The case was later escalated to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), who requested an independent evaluation led by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). Nkwocha claimed that this process was also riddled with irregularities—evaluation reports were delayed, selectively shared, and ultimately handed directly to Mr. Nola instead of the supervising authorities.
“The contractor, Paul, was barred from continuing the job, which was reassigned to the Lebanese firm with questionable standards,” Nkwocha said. “Despite their claimed international experience, the new contractor allegedly delivered inferior work and unstable foundations.”
Nkwocha concluded by saying that Paul is now financially strained, having had his contract terminated, and that he was dismissed from the project, while still awaiting payment for outstanding wages.
