OGWASHI-UKU, Delta State – April 19, 2025 — A Magistrate Court in Ogwashi-Uku has convicted Joseph Nwaukoni, elder brother of embattled businessman Mike Nwaukoni, for his role in a ₦31 million land fraud involving communal land in Azagba Ogwashi, a key area under the jurisdiction of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku.
In Charge No. MO/106C/2023, Nwaukoni, along with Joseph Izegbue and Charles Osadebe, was found guilty of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses after collecting payments for 400 plots of land from Pauline Okonkwo, a businesswoman from Onitsha. The land in question belongs to the Ogwashi-Uku community and is governed by the Obi-in-Council.
According to the court, the transaction was made in bad faith, with full awareness by the defendants that they had no legal authority to sell the land. Though the defendants claimed they received only ₦18.5 million, the court determined that the full ₦31 million had been unlawfully obtained.
“This wasn’t a case of confusion—it was a deliberate act to defraud,” said a legal observer present during proceedings.
Communal Land Crisis Deepens
The case has highlighted a worsening crisis in Azagba Ogwashi, where communal land is being illegally sold by unauthorized individuals. Local leaders allege that rogue actors with political and criminal backing are bypassing traditional structures to profit from illegal land sales.
“The palace has warned repeatedly: all land in Ogwashi-Uku is under the control of the Obi. No individual has the right to sell communal land,” said a source close to the palace.
Nwaukoni’s conviction is being seen as symbolic of a much deeper conflict. His younger brother, Mike Nwaukoni, is facing terrorism and attempted murder charges in connection with a 2023 attack on the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, which many now believe is tied to efforts to undermine traditional authority and gain control over land and resources.
Court Ruling and Aftermath
Though the court did not impose a prison sentence—citing age and alleged health concerns—it ordered the convicts to refund the ₦31 million or serve one year in custody. In a surprise move, the trio was later released on bail by Justice K.O. Okpu of the High Court in Ogwashi-Uku. The conviction, however, still stands.
Community members are demanding stricter enforcement and a broader crackdown on land racketeering.
“This is about more than a land scam,” said a Delta State legal expert. “It’s about undermining tradition, destabilizing our communities, and destroying public trust.”
A local youth leader in Azagba added:
“The Obi is the custodian of our land. Anyone who tries to sell what belongs to all of us is attacking the soul of our community.”
As land disputes escalate across Delta State, residents are calling for stronger legal safeguards to protect communal land and uphold traditional leadership.
