Peller’s N400m Abuja Mansion Gift Allegedly Sits on Disputed Land

Fresh controversy has emerged over the N400 million fully furnished mansion reportedly gifted to Nigerian content creator Habeeb Hamzat (Peller) and his partner, Jarvis, following allegations that the property may be located on a portion of land currently subject to a pending ownership dispute in Abuja.

The mansion, presented as a wedding gift by real estate entrepreneur King Ochacho during the couple’s August 1, 2026 wedding in Lagos, has attracted widespread public attention since the announcement.

However, documents made available to newsmen indicate that the property is allegedly situated within an area claimed by Yakoson Ventures and Urban Paradise Estate, behind Ochacho Estate in Life Camp, Abuja.

According to the documents, Urban Paradise Estate alleged that Paul-B Homes Limited encroached on its property and subsequently began selling portions of the disputed land to several developers, including Ochacho, Silas Homes, NLG Cooperative and others.

The estate owners further stated that the ownership controversy is currently before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja, in Suit No. CV/116/2026, stressing that the matter remains pending and has not been finally determined by the court.

In a recent petition, Urban Paradise Estate alleged that Paul-B Homes Limited continued construction activities on portions of the disputed property despite the service of relevant court processes on the company through substituted means.

The petitioners, however, cautioned against treating either side as having won or lost the dispute, noting that the ownership question remains sub judice.

Separately, legal experts have questioned whether the documents presented to Peller and Jarvis at the wedding—keys, a Power of Attorney and allocation papers—amount to a perfected legal transfer of the property.

Bolaji Oluwatosin, a dispute resolution and corporate commercial lawyer, said a Power of Attorney is an authority to act on another’s behalf and does not by itself establish that a proprietary interest has been transferred.

He added that allocation papers may be significant evidence of the property’s history or the donor’s root of title, but they do not, without more, establish that his interest has been transferred to someone else.

Oluwatosin also noted that keys establish delivery of possession, not title, since possession of land does not, by itself, make one the holder of the legal interest in it.

He said it would be premature to draw a conclusion either way until Ochacho’s title documents are examined, adding that public celebration may mark the making of a gift but does not dispense with the law governing the transfer of land.

King Ochacho has since clarified that the mansion was never intended to be transferred into Peller’s name, describing the arrangement as a free lifetime accommodation rather than an outright gift of ownership.

The businessman explained that the house was originally bought for his son and that the documents will remain in his son’s name, even though Peller and Jarvis are free to live in the property for as long as they wish.

Peller has also opened up about the gift, revealing that he almost sold the house after the wedding before being advised on the legal implications.

The combination of the pending land dispute and the clarification on ownership has intensified scrutiny of the transaction, with observers emphasising the need for due diligence in high-value property gifts and transfers.

For now, the ownership dispute remains pending before the FCT High Court, with the parties expected to await the final determination of the case before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about the status of the land on which the mansion sits.