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By Oscar Okhifo
Next Foods Nigeria Ltd, a company linked to the younger brother of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has strongly denied claims surrounding the ownership of a recently demolished property in Ikeja, Lagos.
The firm has accused the Lagos State Government of turning a blind eye to what it describes as an unlawful demolition carried out without proper notice or legal authority.
In a statement issued through its legal representative, Chief Emeka Okpoko (SAN), Next Foods Nigeria Ltd stated that it lawfully acquired the property in question in 2011, with formal consent from the Lagos State Government obtained in 2013.
The property, according to the company, also carries a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the same Government and backed by documentation from the defunct Western Region.
The controversy erupted after Peter Obi alleged on Tuesday, June 24, that his brother’s legally acquired property was demolished without any court order, prior notice, or official documentation. Obi described the incident as “coordinated lawlessness,” Obi also criticized the Lagos State Government for allowing the demolition to happen without accountability.
The demolition reportedly followed a possession order granted by a Lagos High Court in a suit instituted by one Deborah Oluwalogbon.
However, Next Foods faulted the judgment, arguing that it was directed at “unknown persons in possession” and not the rightful owners of the property. The company further contends that it was never served any notice of the case and that the demolition was carried out based on a flawed process, including service of court documents by pasting rather than direct delivery.
Chief Okpoko also criticized the timing of the demolition, noting that the warrant of possession had expired, as more than six months had passed since the court judgment. He maintained that the firm had initiated legal steps to set aside the judgment, file for a stay of execution, and join the suit to assert its ownership.
Reacting to the allegations, the Lagos State Government denied any involvement in the demolition.
Meanwhile , the Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, has stated that no agency under the state such as the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) executed the demolition. The Government has since ordered a probe into the incident, directing LASBCA and the Office of Urban Development to investigate and clarify the circumstances.
The legal dispute and fireworks will sure unfold in court in the months ahead.
The case has drawn public attention due to its political undertones and implications for property rights in Lagos.
Peter Obi, in a viral video, lamented the state of law enforcement and property protection in Nigeria, describing the incident as a symptom of broader systemic issues.
As legal proceedings and investigations progress, both parties remain entrenched in their positions, with Next Foods Nigeria Ltd seeking redress through the courts and the Lagos State Government distancing itself from the demolition action. Who did this demolition and on whose authority was it done? Why was it done in such a hurry? The future shall unfold.