By Naga Ogbeide
The Nigeria Police have reportedly arrested Mr. Michael Mbiere, former husband of Best Orator, in connection with allegations that land documents and signatures may have been forged in a disputed transaction involving the purported sale of a parcel of land for ₦3.3 million in Benin City, Edo State.
The dispute concerns a 50 by 100 ft parcel of land situated at Iguovenmwen Community, Adolor Ward 7, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, along the Benin-Akure Road. Best Orator has alleged that she provided the money for the property’s acquisition in 2019, when she and Mbiere were still married.
Documents she reportedly presented in support of her claim include an Application for Allocation of Building Plot dated November 8, 2019, bearing the name Mrs. Best Mbiere, and a Deed of Transfer identifying Mrs. Best Mbiere as the transferee. The deed names Mr. James Irabor as the transferor and states that the 50 by 100 ft property was transferred to her for ₦700,000.
The controversy reportedly escalated following the dissolution of the marriage, when Mbiere allegedly presented another set of documents in connection with the purported subsequent sale of the same property to a different buyer for ₦3.3 million. The competing documents have prompted questions about the property’s ownership and the authenticity of the records used in the transaction.
Michael Mbiere reportedly approached community elders, youth leaders and other stakeholders, alleging that Best Orator had forged documents relating to the property. The community subsequently convened a meeting, inviting both parties to present their respective documents for examination as part of an effort to resolve the dispute.
According to Mr. Agbons Osahenmwinda, the Okaghele of Iguovenmwen Community, the examination raised concerns that he characterised as possible forgery involving documents presented by Mbiere. He also said Mbiere was subsequently arrested by the police for further investigation. The account could not, from the information available, be treated as an independent legal determination of the documents’ authenticity.
The development has drawn renewed attention to the 2019 application and Deed of Transfer bearing Best Mbiere’s name, which she has presented as documentary support for her claim. The authenticity of the disputed records and the legal ownership of the land remain matters for proper verification and determination through due process.
The case has also revived scrutiny of an earlier property dispute reportedly raised during the couple’s court proceedings in May. Best Orator had alleged that she purchased another property in her husband’s name while they were married because of their marital relationship.
According to her account, Mbiere presented a document purportedly originating from Iyowa Community and bearing his mother’s name during those proceedings. She reportedly challenged the document’s authenticity, alleging forgery, but said the document influenced the court’s decision to award the property to Mbiere’s mother, resulting in the loss of her claim. These assertions remain allegations, and the court’s findings and the document’s status would need to be confirmed from the relevant proceedings.
Although the earlier allegations have resurfaced following the latest development, the Iyowa Community dispute concerns a different property from the land at Iguovenmwen. It remains unclear whether the current police investigation has any bearing on the earlier court proceedings.
The community’s intervention in the present dispute followed Mbiere’s complaint and centred on examining the competing documents and hearing the parties. The subsequent police involvement may help clarify the circumstances surrounding the preparation and use of the disputed records, including whether the signatures attributed to individuals connected with the transaction were authorised.
The case highlights the importance of verifying land ownership, transfer documents and signatures before completing property transactions. The 2019 documents presented by Best Orator may form part of the evidence considered in establishing the property’s transaction history, but the competing claims require independent verification.
As the police investigation reportedly continues, attention remains focused on the alleged ₦3.3 million sale, the authenticity of the documents reportedly used in the transaction and the parties’ competing claims to the property. No conclusion on criminal liability can be drawn from the reported arrest alone.
While the Okaghele has described the disputed documents as forged, that description reflects his account of the community’s examination and does not constitute a judicial finding. The allegations against Mbiere remain subject to investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings. His arrest does not establish guilt, which must be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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