Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that commercial disputes in Nigeria can take nearly 13 years from filing to a final Supreme Court judgment, a delay he says threatens investment and economic growth. Speaking at the AELEX law firm’s 19th annual lecture in Lagos, Osinbajo highlighted how judicial inefficiencies, policy inconsistency, and weak enforcement have hurt investor confidence.

Citing data from the Justice Research Institute, he noted that cases spend over four years in the High Court, three years in the Court of Appeal, and more than six years at the Supreme Court. He recalled how a UK Court of Appeal once described Nigeria’s legal delays as “catastrophic.” Osinbajo also recounted how landlords in Lagos turned away from rental property investments due to endless tenant disputes and a slow judicial process.

To tackle this, he suggested reforms including digitization of courts, stronger sanctions for delays, creation of commercial courts, and limiting judicial interference in arbitration. He also called for changes to laws that hinder enforcement of judgments against government agencies.

Osinbajo further stressed that inconsistent government policies discourage both local and foreign investors. He urged cross-party collaboration to ensure policy continuity and stakeholder engagement before major reforms.

At the heart of his message was a push for people-centered governance. With nearly 70% of Nigerians under 25, he warned that failure to address youth welfare and justice would threaten national stability. He concluded by calling for unity across the executive, legislature, judiciary, and private sector to deliver meaningful reform.

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The dispute centers on a 2017 ruling in favor of the Olokunjuwon family, which granted them ownership rights over portions of land currently occupied by various landlords. However, the affected homeowners, represented by Olusola Aladesuyi, Tunde Oyinloye, and Olusegun Adu-Peters, have appealed the decision and secured a stay of execution from the Ondo State High Court, pending the Supreme Court’s final verdict scheduled for March 2027.

Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye, who issued the stay of execution, emphasized that halting enforcement actions preserves the integrity of the judicial process and prevents the hierarchy of the court system from being undermined.

Despite this order, the landlords allege that representatives of the Olokunjuwon and Umelu families have been issuing notices demanding land ownership regularization. These notices, which include postings on residential gates and walls—including that of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s private residence—have been described as “intimidating” and “in contempt of court” by the Landlords Association.

Chairman of the association, Mr. Fred Ojo, expressed concern over what he sees as deliberate attempts to enforce possession while the case remains unresolved at Nigeria’s apex court. He accused an individual identified as O.V. Omotayo of signing and distributing the notices, a move the landlords claim undermines both legal and ethical boundaries.

“The stay of execution remains valid until the Supreme Court rules on the appeal. Any attempt to enforce land claims during this period is a breach of judicial decorum,” Ojo said.

He reiterated the community’s commitment to pursuing justice through legal channels and warned against any action that could be interpreted as obstructing due process. The case, filed under suit number SC/CV/1151/2022, continues to generate legal and public attention as it affects prominent residents and long-standing property owners in the state capital.

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With claims and counterclaims flying, the saga underscores the precarious nature of land ownership in the region, leaving many questioning the security of real estate investments.

In a formal petition dated February 7, 2025, Maduka, through his legal counsel Chidel Onuora, called on the Delta State Commissioner of Police to intervene swiftly in what he describes as an unlawful encroachment on land he legally purchased in 2017. The property in question, initially sold to him by Dr. Darlington Ijeh—now the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism—has become a bone of contention, with new claimants allegedly emerging out of nowhere.

Maduka recounted his shock and frustration when he attempted to commence development on the land, only to be confronted by individuals who insisted they had rights over the property. As tensions mounted, he sought the intervention of Dr. Ijeh, expecting clarity and resolution. However, to his dismay, the commissioner allegedly became unresponsive, ceasing communication altogether.

According to his lawyer, repeated attempts to engage Ijeh in discussions have hit a dead end. “Our client has reached out multiple times, both informally and through legal correspondence, yet there has been no response. The silence from Mr. Ijeh is both puzzling and worrisome. Maduka is merely an investor trying to contribute to the state’s development, and it is disheartening that he is being subjected to this ordeal. If potential investors are met with such experiences, it raises serious concerns about the ease of doing business in Delta State.”

As the situation escalates, Dr. Ijeh has now broken his silence, offering a different perspective on the matter. He insists that Maduka has neglected a crucial step in the transaction—ratifying the land with the Umuodafe Family, the original custodians who have since secured a Supreme Court judgment regarding the property. He questions why Maduka has chosen a legal confrontation rather than engaging in a reconciliation process with the family.

“If there’s truly an issue with the land, shouldn’t he go there and assert his claim? If he faces resistance, he should turn to the person who sold it to him for clarification,” Ijeh argued. “Instead, he has ignored my calls, even blocking me at one point. I was the one urging him to settle matters with the family, but he refused. Now, instead of resolving the issue directly, he is involving the police.”

Ijeh’s defense paints a picture of an unresolved transaction rather than an outright case of land grabbing. “Has he made all the necessary payments? Has he fulfilled his obligations? Rather than taking the right steps, he wants to escalate things by dragging the authorities into a situation he can simply fix by engaging with the rightful owners. The Supreme Court judgment is clear—the family owns the land. He needs to come for ratification instead of trying to create unnecessary tension.”

With both sides standing their ground, the case has now taken on legal dimensions that could potentially shape future land transactions in Delta State. Land ownership disputes are nothing new in Nigeria, where unclear documentation, shifting claims, and power plays often complicate property rights. For many investors like Maduka, the experience is a stark reminder that even legitimate purchases can become mired in controversy.

The police, now drawn into the unfolding drama, face the challenge of ensuring that the dispute does not spiral into a full-blown crisis. Community leaders and legal experts are also weighing in, emphasizing the need for clearer land ownership frameworks to prevent similar conflicts. Meanwhile, Maduka remains determined to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his, while the Umuodafe Family and Dr. Ijeh maintain that due process must be followed.

As the tension simmers, all eyes are on how the authorities will handle this high-stakes property dispute. Will the police’s intervention bring about a peaceful resolution, or is this just the beginning of a prolonged legal battle? Time will tell, but one thing is certain—land disputes in Nigeria are never as straightforward as they seem.

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