A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja is set to hear a major land dispute involving Adamakin Investment & Works Limited, a real estate company, and the Lagos State Government. The case concerns the ownership and administrative control of a large piece of land linked to the well-known Efunroye Tinubu Estate, located in Lagos State.
The lawsuit, filed under the suit number ID/8890GCM/2024, was brought by Adamakin Investment & Works Limited and its promoter, Akinfolabi Akindele. In the suit, the company is challenging various government agencies, including the Attorney General, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Lands, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), and several enforcement agencies. The dispute centers around the government’s actions that the claimants believe unlawfully restricted transactions and activities on the land.
The property in question is officially registered as No. 45 on Page 45 in Volume 2212 of the Lagos State Land Registry. Adamakin and Akindele argue that the Lagos State Government has wrongly imposed a directive that prevents any transactions on the land, a move they consider to be a violation of the estate’s recognized ownership. According to the claimants, this restriction was applied without following the correct legal process and infringes on their rights.
The crux of the dispute stems from the government’s order of “No Transaction, No Certified True Copy” on the estate’s title. This order, the claimants argue, amounts to a wrongful reversal of the land’s recognized ownership. They claim the estate’s ownership has been legally validated for over a century, citing historical legal documents to support their position.
According to the suit, the ownership of the estate was first affirmed by the Federal Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1912. Further validation of this ownership was provided through a 1954 Petition of Right, an important historical document. With this long-standing recognition, the claimants argue that the government’s actions to stop transactions on the land are not only unlawful but also a violation of their constitutional rights.
In their suit, Adamakin and Akindele are seeking several declarations from the court. They are requesting that the court declare the Lagos State Government’s restriction on transactions involving the land to be unlawful and order its removal. They also seek a ruling that prevents the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other government agencies from marking buildings for demolition on the estate without following due process.
Another key part of the claim is the government’s actions of inviting estate beneficiaries for questioning. The claimants believe these actions are part of an attempt to review past court judgments, which they argue is unlawful. They are also requesting the court to declare that any directives issued by the Attorney General or law enforcement agencies to confiscate properties from estate beneficiaries are illegal.
In addition to these requests, Adamakin and Akindele are asking the court to issue an order preventing the state government and its agencies from interfering in the ownership of the estate or continuing any ongoing prosecutions related to the land dispute.
The dispute has drawn significant attention, as the land in question is a valuable and important part of Lagos State’s real estate market. The Efunroye Tinubu Estate, to which the land is connected, is historically significant, and many individuals have property interests there. The actions of the Lagos State Government in restricting transactions on the estate have raised concerns about the legal rights of property owners and investors in the area.
The Lagos State Government, through its various agencies, has been given 14 days to respond to the summons and provide their defense. The case is expected to have a significant impact on the future of property transactions and land ownership rights in the state.
The issue of land ownership and property disputes has been a long-standing challenge in Lagos State, where rapid urbanization and development have led to increasing pressure on land resources. Property rights and the security of land titles have become critical issues for investors, developers, and residents in Lagos, with many facing challenges related to government policies, land acquisition processes, and ownership claims.
This legal battle is just one example of the larger struggles over land ownership in Lagos State, where many individuals and companies are grappling with unclear land titles, government interference, and disputes over the rightful owners of valuable real estate. With the state’s growing population and demand for land, the outcome of this case could set important legal precedents for future property disputes in the city.
As the case proceeds, all eyes will be on the Lagos State High Court, where the ruling could affect not only the fate of Adamakin Investment & Works Limited and its promoter but also the broader real estate landscape in Lagos. Property owners, developers, and legal experts will be closely following the case, as its outcome could have far-reaching implications for land transactions, land ownership rights, and the role of the state government in regulating property deals.
The trial is scheduled to continue, with further developments expected in the coming weeks. For now, Adamakin Investment & Works Limited is awaiting the court’s decision on the matter, hopeful for a ruling that will affirm their rights to the estate and prevent any further interference by the Lagos State Government.
The next hearing will be a crucial moment in the ongoing land dispute and could determine the direction of future property rights issues in Lagos. As the case unfolds, the people of Lagos will be watching closely, as the outcome could reshape the way land disputes are handled in the state and provide clarity on the rights of property owners in one of Nigeria’s most populous and rapidly developing cities.
