Ayogu, who claimed to be a pastor, is currently studying law at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). SaharaReporters learnt that he had been parading himself sometimes as a Captain and at other times as a Major, a lawyer or a community leader, depending on the environment and what title he felt was suitable to achieve his aim.
Nigeria’s secret Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army are currently investigating the activities of one ‘Captain’ Okechukwu Ayogu of the Hymac Real Limited, who has been reportedly impersonating a military officer and using soldiers to terrorise residents of Enugu State.
Ayogu, who claimed to be a pastor, is currently studying law at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). SaharaReporters learnt that he had been parading himself sometimes as a Captain and at other times as a Major, a lawyer or a community leader, depending on the environment and what title he felt was suitable to achieve his aim.
According to him, he belongs to 48 regular courses set in the Nigerian Army. He reportedly tells people that if he had not resigned to answer God's call, probably he would have risen through the ranks to become a Brigadier General.
Sources said he always points out that his coursemates in the military are now Brigadier Generals.
According to sources, he has been using the name of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, and his family to destroy properties belonging to residents of Enugu State and one belonging to a sitting Enugu State High Court judge. This he does with the help of some soldiers who follow him around the state in collaboration with some close officials of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, whom he claimed were shareholders in his HYMAC Real Limited.
SaharaReporters investigation revealed that in some places, he (Ayogu) claimed that the wife of the Chief of Army Staff and the daughter of the ex-Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai are shareholders in his company with the aim of using their names to intimidate and defraud residents and government officials.
However, his impersonation of Army authorities was exposed recently after he allegedly vandalised billboards belonging to one Eze Victor Emeka in front of 82 Division in Enugu, using Army personnel with a purported order from the Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Brigadier General Thompson Bobby Ugiagbe.
It was in the course of an investigation into a petition sent to the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, and copied to the Garrison Commander, 82 Division; Deputy Director, Legal Services, 82 Division; State Director, DSS Enugu and Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA), dated October 29, 2023, by Eze Victor Emeka that his activities were uncovered and his identity was found to be Okechukwu Ayogu.
A copy of the petition obtained by SaharaReporters from a security source is titled: "Petition Against Okechukwu Ayogu Of HYMAC Real Limited For An Act Of Intimidation And Vandalisation Of My Billboard Using Nigerian Army Personnel."
The petition partly read: "I am writing to bring to your attention a distressing incident of intimidation and vandalisation carried out by Mr. Okechukwu Ayogu, a representative of Hymac Real Limited, in Enugu.
"It was brought to my notice that one Ayogu was vandalising my advert billboard which I quickly went to the site and confirmed that Mr. Ayogu had utilised army personnel to destroy my advert billboard, resulting in total vandalisation and carting away of my large format Billboard at Ogui Junction and Abakpa junction, Enugu.”
"This dastardly act happened on Friday, 27 October 2023," the petitioner said, adding that the billboards were legally placed at Ogui and Abakpa junctions before the vandalism.
Emeka explained that upon further inquiry, "I discovered that Mr. Okechukwu Ayogu claimed to have received instruction and approval from Abuja Army Intelligence Unit for the construction of another bigger billboard for the installation of surveillance security cameras for Enugu State and the Nigerian Army.
"As if that was not enough, Mr Okechukwu Ayogu vandalised and pulled down another advert billboard belonging to me at Abakpa junction on Saturday 28 October 2023. He used army personnel to intimidate me and coerce other persons to carry out this act. "
The petitioner further claimed that the said Ayogu had threatened him because of his refusal to surrender the billboards and the site location to him. "I have due approval from the garrison and also from the state government," he said.
He maintained that he was never informed by the military command about any surveillance camera project only for the said Ayogu, who had reportedly identified himself as a Capt. Okechukwu, to come and destroy his means of livelihood "in this harsh economic situation using the name of the military”.
"This is not only a blatant abuse of power but also a violation of my rights as a law-abiding and hard-working citizen. I am ready to appear anywhere to say the truth about this terrible incident," Emeka said.
Emeka, however, implored the GOC to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter. "It is crucial that the truth is uncovered and appropriate action taken against those responsible. This incident has not only caused me significant financial losses but also immense emotional distress. It has also made me wonder if we indeed respect the rule of law in this country. It is surprising to me that the army we look up to, as our most reliable source of protection can be used by an individual to abuse the rights of law-abiding citizens," he said.
"...I also further request, sir, that you take necessary measures to protect me and other innocent citizens from any further intimidation or harassment by Mr Okechukwu Ayogu or other individuals who may abuse their association with the military for personal gain. It is imperative that we all ensure that the poor, vulnerable, and law-abiding citizens of Enugu can live without fear and intimidation. That is why I am bringing this matter to your notice."
Meanwhile, a security source told SaharaReporters that in the course of the investigation carried out by the DSS, it was discovered that CMI (A) Brigadier General Ugiagbe, never authorised the destruction of the billboards as Ayogu had claimed.
"This also led to further investigation on whether he is or was a military officer, which he had finally confessed he was not," the source said.
According to the source, the DSS is also investigating the allegation of defrauding residents of Enugu State of their hard-earned money running into hundreds of millions of naira.
Some of the cases are said to have dragged on for over four years because of the complicity of some heads of security agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police who have allegedly been bribed by the man.
Meanwhile, a petition to the Chief of Army Staff, dated October 30, 2023, which was signed by Gabriel Ikeogu, Esq for Crystal Bridge Advocates, on behalf of Bishtec Soft Consult Limited and its Director Engr Kingsley Nebo, alleged that Ayogu had used soldiers of the Nigerian Army to vandalise their client's property, and further defrauded them N50 million.
The petition is titled: "Case of fraud, vandalization and malicious damage of properties perpetrated by one MR Okechukwu Ayogu using men and officers of the Nigerian Army."
The petition partly read: "We are solicitors to Bishtec Soft Consult Limited and its Director Engr. Kingsley Nebo (both of whom shall hereinafter be referred to as ‘the victims’). It is on their behest and instruction that we anchor this petition to your office to formally report the very nefarious activities of one Mr Okechukwu Ayogu, the Managing Director of Hymac Real Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘the culprit’) who recently mobilised some men and officers of the Nigerian Army, went to one of the victim’s advertisements hanged on a billboard at Ogui Junction, Enugu and maliciously vandalised and destroyed same in broad daylight with impunity.
"This is in addition to his defrauding the victim of a whooping sum of Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000.00) under the guise of selling twelve plots of land to him and ever since then, he has been intimidating, harassing and threatening the victim with men and officers of the Nigerian Army.
"The victims report that on Thursday the 26th day of October 2023, the culprit accompanied by some men and officers of the Nigerian Army, went to one of the victim’s advertisements hung on a billboard at Ogui Junction, Enugu and maliciously vandalised and destroyed same in broad daylight with impunity. As a matter of fact, those men and officers of the Nigerian Army were the people vandalising and destroying the said billboard while the culprit was there directing and supervising their activities and as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, the victims have decided not to take laws into their hands hence their resolve to approach us to anchor this petition on their behalf to your office for your prompt intervention and necessary actions towards addressing this wrong and other criminal activities of the culprit.
"In addition to the above, it is very imperative that we bring to your attention the fact that sometime in the year 2020, the victims were able to mobilise funds from some persons who are interested in real estate and with that fund which total sum is Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000.00), our clients were able to subscribe for twelve (12) plots of land at the Estate of the culprit Mr Okechukwu Ayogu situate at Graceland Estate, Amakpu, Nkwubor Nike Community, Enugu East Local Government Area, Enugu State but after making the aforesaid full payment of Fifty Million Naira for the said twelve (12) plots of land, the culprit Mr Okechukwu Ayogu whose intent was to defraud the victims and syphon the said Fifty Million Naira which is not even the victims’ money, deliberately refused to allot the said twelve (12) plots of land to the victims and equally refused to return the said Fifty Million Naira paid by the victims up till date despite several demands and efforts by the victims to recover the said Fifty Million Naira which the culprit defrauded them of.
"On one occasion the victim approached the culprit to demand a refund of the said Fifty Million Naira or the delivery of documents and possession of the said twelve (12) plots of land it was used to purchase, the culprit took the victim to the Officers' Mess of 82 Division and openly threatened the life of the victim thereat, stating that he would harm the victim if he ever tries to get close to any of his properties.
"Seeing that the victim always surrounds himself with men and officers of the Nigerian Army, the victim could not do anything. It is against these backdrops that we are highly constrained to immediately forward this petition to your office for your prompt intervention and necessary actions towards addressing these wrong and criminal activities of the culprit who carries and prides himself as being above the law.
"The victims are ready to supply all the documentary evidence at their disposal and more facts that may be required to further substantiate this petition when approved."
When SaharaReporters contacted Captain Okechukwu Ayogu on the telephone, he said, "I want to tell you that all those things are lies. I want to go specific and I want to let you know that this is a malicious publication and defamation that some people are embarking on. Now if I am a soldier, I will not be into real estate. You know very well that soldiers are forbidden from doing business. I am a real estate developer, if you go to my company website you see my name and picture there. I am a civilian.
"I have never claimed to be any course 48 regular course set. My name is Okey Ayogu. I have no problem with Prof Gab Agu Gab, he was partly a dean when I was in ESUT law faculty, studying law. He was one of my lecturers; I don't have any issues with him.
“Something must have a probative value for you to begin to consider a matter report. I want you to look at this clearly and this is malicious, somebody wants to go out there and say so-so person did this and that. And if I have destroyed somebody's property the person should go to court.
"The Ezeugwu property is a property that Ezeugwu went and built on my property and the Enugu State government through the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority went and destroyed by themselves. If the state government denies that it is not aware, then the letter the state government wrote to the Capital Territory Development Authority was not written by me. That letter was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah."
Asked about the soldiers he has been using to terrorise residents of Enugu State since he denied being a soldier, Ayogu said, "Who told you that I am using soldiers to destroy people's property?"
On the demolition of billboards at Ogui and Abakpa junctions, he said, "And if soldiers are demolishing, billboards you saw me there?"
On the investigation by the DSS, he said: "I didn't make any statement with the DSS."
Shortly after he called back, and when asked about the interrogation at the office of the Garrison Commander 82 Division, he flared up and said, "Excuse me, let me tell you something and please you should do your work professionally. DSS never arrested me and I never wrote any statement at the DSS."
On whether he was invited by the DSS over the security cameras he claimed to be installing at Abakpa Junction for the Nigerian Army and Enugu State government, he said, "I made a complaint over an issue to DSS and I was asked to come and I went there. If I was found wanting, the DSS would have arrested me.”
Regarding a young man he allegedly defrauded of N50 million, he said, "I didn't collect N50 million from anybody. Somebody bought property from me with money he got from duping people. The person duped people and used the money to buy property from me and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wrote to me that I should not release the property because it’s money was traced to people he duped.
"And I wrote EFCC last year asking EFCC if they were done with the investigation and when the person started disturbing me that he wanted the property, I took the person to court."
When asked further questions regarding the matter, he said, "The matter is sub judice. The matter is in court. The reason why the matter is in court is that the EFCC traced the man to be a fraudster."
After failing to answer several questions regarding allegations that he used the name of the Chief of Army Staff and his family to commit several infractions, he threatened the reporter.
“If you go and publish, I have told you all those things are lies and they are not even newsworthy. If you target my person to publish wrong things against me, know that there will be repercussions. I am telling you, if you publish this report, there will be repercussions."
However, someone later called our reporter to ask how much it could cost Ayogu to get the story dropped. He claimed he was sent by Ayogu to intervene.