𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫. 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐢 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐢 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝, 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥

𝙱𝚢: 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝙰𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚣 

In a storm of betrayal, fraud, and criminal conspiracy, Barr. Okoi Obeten Okoi a former legal counsel to Afriq Group of Companies, finds himself at the center of a land scandal worth tens of millions of naira. Once a trusted company’s legal representative, Okoi has now earned the label of fugitive from the law after repeatedly refusing to honour police invitations and allegedly masterminding a shocking impersonation of a senior police officer.

Afriq Group of Companies entrusted Barr. Okoi with millions of naira to purchase 115 plots of land for its global farm project. He was not just the company lawyer but also the contractor, handling everything, negotiations with communities, chiefs, and families; verifying land ownership; approving payments; and supplying bank accounts for transactions.

When the company’s CEO, Mr. Jesam Michael, returned from Canada to inspect the sites, the lands presented by Barr. Okoi looked far smaller than expected. Suspicious, the CEO demanded a proper survey.

The result was shocking. An independent surveyor, Mr. Felix Eze, confirmed that the 105 plots Okoi claimed were actually only 72 plots, while the 10 plots he claimed elsewhere were just 8 plots. In total, 35 plots worth millions of naira were missing.

Okoi swore he had secured all 115 plots. But when confronted with the truth, he promised to replace the shortfall. Months later, he claimed to have bought 15 plots, leaving 20 still missing. He begged for one week to complete the replacement. That week has stretched into months, and he never fulfilled the promise. Instead, he fled.

This was no mistake. For years, Barr. Okoi was on the company’s payroll, earning salary and allowances for every trip he made on behalf of Afriq Group. He prepared deeds of assignment, approved every payment, and presented himself as the eye of the company.

How can the same man now deny involvement in the missing plots? He was the one who verified ownership, negotiated prices, and supplied account numbers. The betrayal runs deep.

When Afriq Group filed a petition, police at the Ugep Division invited Okoi four times. He refused to honor the invitations. Instead, he sent a man pretending to come from 𝗦𝗔𝗡 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘂 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗯𝗶’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 in 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗿, a lie, since the Senior Advocate has no such office there.

Okoi was later arrested at Yakurr Guest House, Ugep. But in an unbelievable twist, he allegedly staged a phone call impersonating the Commissioner of Police (𝗖𝗣) of Cross River State, claiming the Inspector General had ordered his release. Shockingly, he was freed without proper documentation.

When the real 𝗖𝗣 was contacted, he denied ever hearing of the case or ordering such a release. Investigations later revealed that some officers in Calabar, including 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝗲𝘁, allegedly colluded with Okoi to impersonate the CP and obstruct justice.

Instead of clearing his name, 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗶 has resorted to running, hiding, and blackmailing. He has made false publications, called the 𝗖𝗘𝗢 names, and tried to paint himself as a victim. But his actions speak louder:

• He received millions to buy land but delivered far less.

• He swore falsely about plots that never existed.

• He ran when the truth came out.

• He impersonated police authorities to escape lawful custody.

Afriq Group has declared that the matter is beyond one man. It is about the survival and integrity of the company. Whether or not the CEO is around, the management, legal team, compliance officers, and staff are determined to recover the company’s properties and expose the fraud.

“𝗶𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗶 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁? 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?” the company asked in a statement.

Security agencies, including the 𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗡𝗦𝗔, and 𝗙𝗖𝗜𝗗, have now received petitions and are investigating the case.

From trusted lawyer to fugitive, the story of 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗶 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗶 is a chilling reminder of how greed and betrayal can destroy trust. He was paid, trusted, and empowered, but instead of serving the company faithfully, he allegedly stole from it and now hides behind lies and impersonation.

Afriq Group’s message is clear:

“𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗶 has betrayed trust, broken the law, and must face the consequences.”