President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to address concerns raised by stakeholders over the conduct of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in an ongoing property dispute before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja Judicial Division.

The appeal was made by an estate developer, Engineer Samuel Oladele Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of affected stakeholders following recent proceedings in the long-running dispute involving the FHA and property owners.

The development is contained in a Certified True Copy of proceedings in Suit No. ID/13129LMW/2023, filed by H.R.M. Oba Isaac Owolabi and others against the Federal Housing Authority.

Court hears demolition concerns

During proceedings on June 2, 2026, the court was informed that the parties had been working towards an amicable settlement when the claimants received notices from the FHA.

The development prompted the claimants to approach the court with an application for an interlocutory injunction.

Counsel to the claimants, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chris Okeke, raised concerns before the court regarding activities allegedly being carried out by the FHA while the case remained pending.

Counsel representing the FHA confirmed to the court that demolition notices had been posted.

The Authority subsequently gave an undertaking that it would not demolish the affected properties pending the hearing and determination of the claimants’ application.

The court recorded the undertaking and adjourned the matter for the hearing of the pending applications.

Stakeholder appeals to Tinubu

Reacting to the proceedings, Ahmed said the development had heightened concerns among affected property owners and other stakeholders over the handling of the dispute.

He appealed to President Tinubu to encourage the FHA management to comply with applicable court orders and undertakings in the matter.

According to Ahmed, government agencies should carry out their responsibilities in a manner that protects public confidence in the judiciary.

He stressed that stakeholders were not opposed to the FHA exercising its statutory responsibilities, including protecting government property and addressing developments it considers unlawful.

However, he maintained that such responsibilities should be exercised in accordance with due process and within the limits of the law, particularly when a matter is already before the court.

‘Allow court to determine dispute’

Ahmed said presidential attention to the concerns would, in his view, promote accountability within the executive arm of government without interfering with the judicial process.

He also appealed to the FHA to allow the court to determine the issues before it before taking any action that could affect properties covered by the pending proceedings.

According to him, respect for court orders and due process should apply to every government institution.

He added that adherence to the rule of law would help strengthen citizens’ confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.

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A Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba has restrained the Lagos State Government and four other defendants from taking possession of or interfering with a disputed property belonging to an 80-year-old widow in Lekki Peninsula Scheme I, pending the determination of a motion on notice.

Justice E.O. Ashade granted the interim injunction in favour of Chief H.A.K. Shonowo, who instituted the suit on behalf of herself and the estate of her late husband, Chief Owodiran Olusoga Shonowo.

The defendants in the case are the Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Gary Sanusi and Dillon Consultants Nigeria Limited.

The claimant, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Babatunde Oni, urged the court to preserve the property, arguing that the defendants’ actions had caused her hardship and threatened her ownership rights.

The disputed property comprises 11 four-bedroom terrace houses, three three-bedroom flats, one two-bedroom flat and a commercial shop built on about 4,000/4,300 square metres of land located at Block 113, Plot Health Centre, Lekki Peninsula Scheme I, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

In his ruling, Justice Ashade held that the claimant had established sufficient grounds for the grant of the interim order.

The court noted that parties involved in a pending case must refrain from taking actions capable of affecting the court’s jurisdiction or prejudicing the outcome of the matter.

Consequently, the judge restrained the defendants, their agents, representatives or privies from taking possession of, transferring, reassigning or interfering with the claimant’s possession and ownership rights over the property pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The court also barred the fourth and fifth defendants from handing over the disputed property to any other person until the application before the court is determined.

As part of the conditions attached to the injunction, the court directed the claimant to file an undertaking in the sum of N1 million to indemnify the defendants should it later be established that the interim order ought not to have been granted.

Court documents revealed that the claimant and her late husband were jointly allocated the original parcel of land measuring about 7,312.865 square metres in 1996 under a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Lagos State Government.

According to the claimant, the government revoked the Certificate of Occupancy in October 2020 but later reallocated about 4,000 square metres of the land to her in May 2021 following an appeal. A subsequent survey reportedly placed the land size at approximately 4,300 square metres.

She stated that she thereafter entered into a joint venture agreement with the fourth and fifth defendants to develop the property.

Under the agreement, the developers were expected to construct 22 four-bedroom terrace houses, six three-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom flats, with the claimant entitled to 11 terrace houses, three flats, one two-bedroom apartment and a commercial shop.

The widow alleged that although construction commenced in 2021 and her allocated units were expected to be delivered by August 2023, the developers repeatedly failed to hand over the completed properties despite several demands.

She further claimed that in March 2026 she was informed through WhatsApp that the Lagos State Government intended to take over the reallocated land.

The claimant insisted she had no contractual relationship with the Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General or the Governor, maintaining that her agreement was solely with the private developers.

Justice Ashade adjourned the case until July 9, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

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The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted a foreclosure order in favour of Citygate Global Investment Limited, authorising the financial services firm to take possession of and sell a mortgaged property belonging to businessman, Hyginus Eze, over an alleged unpaid loan facility of ₦150 million.

Justice Mathias O. Dawodu delivered the judgment in Suit No. ID/9743GCM/2025, ruling that Citygate Global Investment Limited had successfully established its legal right to enforce a mortgage agreement executed by the defendant in December 2024.

The court held that the company was entitled to exercise its powers under a Deed of Legal Mortgage and Memorandum of Deposit after Eze allegedly defaulted on repayment obligations tied to the facility.

According to court documents, the businessman obtained a ₦150 million loan facility from Citygate in December 2024 for a tenure of 10 months at an interest rate of four per cent.

The loan was secured with a property located at No. 4 Chidi Duru Street, formerly Eboma Street, off Havana Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos State.

Citygate told the court that the defendant was expected to repay a total sum of ₦210 million between January and October 2025 but failed to meet the agreed repayment schedule, leaving a substantial outstanding balance.

In his defence, Eze argued that he received ₦135 million rather than ₦150 million and claimed to have repaid more than ₦90 million. He also maintained that he had sought reconciliation and restructuring of the loan facility.

However, Justice Dawodu ruled that the defendant failed to provide documentary evidence to support his claims of substantial repayment.

The court held that the burden of proof rested on the borrower and that unsupported assertions contained in affidavits could not override documentary records presented by the claimant.

The judge further noted that some correspondence tendered before the court amounted to admissions of indebtedness by the defendant.

Relying on established legal principles governing mortgage transactions, the court affirmed that a mortgagee has the right to foreclose and sell a mortgaged property where a borrower defaults on repayment obligations.

Consequently, the court granted Citygate Global Investment Limited possession of the property and authorised the company to proceed with its sale.

The court, however, declined requests for a perpetual injunction against the defendant and security enforcement orders, directing both parties to bear their respective legal costs.

Following the judgment, counsel to Citygate Global Investment Limited, Adeniyi Joshua, announced that the property had effectively become the company’s asset by virtue of the court’s foreclosure order.

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Sulaiman Olayiwola Gbajabiamila has been sentenced to multiple prison terms by a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja after he was found guilty of defrauding a property buyer of N31 million and forging a Sterling Bank Manager’s cheque.

Justice I. O. Ijelu delivered the judgment on Monday, August 25, 2025, following a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gbajabiamila was first arraigned on September 19, 2023, by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Command on a seven-count charge, including stealing, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery, use of false documents, and retention of proceeds of crime.

The EFCC alleged that Gbajabiamila was introduced to Lateef Adeyemo by an estate agent, identified as Lukman. Adeyemo, seeking to purchase a flat at Lagos Homes, Iponri, reportedly paid N31 million to Gbajabiamila for a two-bedroom apartment that was never provided. Investigators found that the funds were diverted for personal use.

One of the charges stated that in 2021, Gbajabiamila dishonestly converted N31 million belonging to Adeyemo. Another count accused him of forging a Sterling Bank Manager’s cheque worth N10 million in favour of STB Building Society Limited.

During trial, Gbajabiamila pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Abdulhamid L. Tukur, called two witnesses and submitted documents which the court admitted as evidence. His defence counsel, T. E. Gbado, urged the judge to show leniency, describing him as remorseful and a first-time offender.

After reviewing the case, Justice Ijelu found him guilty on all counts. The court imposed the following penalties:

Count 1 (Stealing): Five years imprisonment or a fine of N1 million.
Count 2 (Obtaining by false pretences): Seven years imprisonment.
Counts 3–5 (Forgery): Two years each, with the option of a N1 million fine per count.
Count 6 (Use of false documents): Two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
Count 7 (Retention of proceeds of crime): Four years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.

Despite pleas for mercy, the judge ruled in accordance with the law, sealing Gbajabiamila’s conviction.

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The injunction had initially been issued in a case brought by Capital Gardens Limited against estate developer Oretol Nigeria Limited. The dispute centers on a four-hectare parcel of waterlogged land within the larger 40-hectare Hampton Island Estate. According to court documents, this specific area is outlined in a survey plan dated February 8, 2024.

Justice Ashade noted that both parties have now complied with the Pre-action Protocol required by the Lagos State High Court, which formed the legal basis for the earlier order. As a result, the judge declared the order expired and cautioned both parties against discussing the matter on social media or other public platforms.

The disagreement dates back to a 2020 arrangement in which Oretol agreed to allocate the submerged land to Capital Gardens Limited after reclamation was completed. However, economic setbacks—including the COVID-19 pandemic—led to cost increases and delays, causing Oretol to pull out of the deal. Capital Gardens responded by initiating legal proceedings to contest the termination.

While the legal challenge continues, the broader Hampton Island Estate remains unaffected, with only the contested four-hectare section currently in dispute.

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