A prominent medical doctor, Ojo Ademola, has taken legal action against former Lagos State Task Force chairman, Engineer Peter Omotosho, and others for allegedly flouting a court order meant to protect his property in the Lekki area. In a dramatic turn, Ademola filed a Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, accusing Omotosho and his associates of defying the law and unlawfully trespassing on his land.
The case revolves around a dispute over Ademola’s 1,147.124-square-meter plot on Admiralty Road, Lekki Peninsula, which he legally purchased in 2020 from Churchgate Nigeria Ltd. Despite a court injunction barring trespassers from the property, the defendants allegedly continued to invade the land using force, police intimidation, and other unlawful methods.
In his legal filings, Ademola’s lawyer, Ayodele Osanyinlusi, is demanding that the court withdraw the representation of Starmark Finance Company Ltd. by the prominent law firm, Lawal Pedro (SAN) & Associates, citing a conflict of interest. Ademola is also seeking to overturn a recent order allowing the law firm to represent the company in the case.
This legal battle comes after the court issued an order on December 10, 2024, forbidding the defendants from harassing or entering the land, pending the outcome of the suit. Despite this, Ademola claims that the defendants, including the police, have continued to pressure him and his workers, jeopardizing his plans to build a world-class specialist hospital.
In a desperate plea, Ademola has called on authorities, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Inspector General of Police, to intervene and put an end to the illegal attempts to seize his land.
As the court prepares to hear the application for committal proceedings on April 10, 2025, this case has brought to light the growing issue of land grabbing in Lagos, highlighting the potential risks faced by legitimate property owners in the state.
