•Seeks Urgent Government Intervention
A prominent medical doctor and international consultant, Dr Ojo Ademola Oluwatosin, has raised the alarm over an alleged illegal and forceful takeover of his land in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
He has therefore called for urgent intervention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Attorney-General Lawal Pedro (SAN), and the Inspector General of Police to protect his investment and life.
Dr Ojo, who had ambitious plans to build a world-class specialist hospital on the property, said his vision is now under serious threat due to the actions of suspected land grabbers and speculators.
According to him, the land, located on Admiralty Road in Lekki Phase 1, was legally acquired from Churchgate Nigeria Limited in 2020.
He affirmed that all due legal processes were followed, including obtaining the Governor’s consent and registering the title at the Bureau of Lands, Lagos State.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Dr Ojo’s legal representative, Mr Ayodele Osanyinlusi, disclosed that the doctor had also secured building approvals from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA).
He further noted that a Certificate of Occupancy issued on January 16, 1990, authenticated his client’s ownership and permitted him to commence construction on the hospital project.
The lawyer revealed that trouble began in 2023 when construction kicked off.
About 15 armed policemen, accompanied by suspected thugs, stormed the site, violently evicting workers.
The invaders, who claimed to be operatives of the Lagos State Task Force, reportedly did not present any verifiable documents or title proving ownership of the land.
It was through the intervention of Dr Ojo’s attorney, Mr Ademola Ekundayo, that an investigation by the police uncovered that the invaders were not officially linked to the Lagos State Task Force, leading to their withdrawal.
However, despite the intervention of the Maroko Police Division, a court order, and advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) dated August 15, 2024, and December 30, 2024, the harassment persisted.
“They returned, broke into the site, vandalized the property, and carted away building materials worth over N30 million,” Osanyinlusi lamented.
Following continued intimidation, the case was escalated to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon.
However, efforts to put an end to the illegal activities were met with further resistance.
Osanyinlusi alleged that the perpetrators leveraged false claims to invite police officers from multiple locations to intimidate Dr Ojo and his legal team.
He further accused one Engineer Omotosho, a former head of the Lagos State Task Force, of backing the land grabbers and using his high-level connections within the Lagos State government to shield them from justice.
According to the lawyer, when FCID Alagbon refused to yield to pressure, the case was transferred to FCID Abuja, where the narrative was allegedly manipulated, leading to the arrest of Dr Ojo’s attorney, Mr Ekundayo.
Alarmed by these developments, Dr Ojo filed a petition with the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 2 through his legal counsel.
The matter was subsequently taken to the Lagos State High Court, where an interlocutory injunction was granted to restrain Starmark Finance Company Limited and its agents from further trespassing or interfering with the land.
Justice A. O. Idowu, in his ruling, issued an order preventing the defendants from entering, harassing, or engaging in any activities on the disputed land, which is located at Plot 1, Block 4, Lekki Peninsula, Scheme 1, Admiralty Road, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The land, measuring 1,147.124 square meters, was formally registered with a Deed of Assignment as No. 69, Page 69, Volume 2741 of the Land Registry in Ikeja, Lagos.
The court also granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from using force, thugs, the police, or other government agencies to harass or intimidate the rightful owner.
Despite these legal victories, the lawyer lamented that the land grabbers continue their unlawful activities, blatantly disregarding the court’s injunction and the DPP’s recommendation for the prosecution of those involved.
Expressing deep frustration, Osanyinlusi urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, and the Inspector General of Police to step in and protect Dr Ojo’s life and investment.
“If swift action isn’t taken, not only could his vision of providing top-tier medical services be destroyed, but it would also embolden criminal networks threatening the safety of genuine investors in Lagos State,” he warned.
As of now, the matter remains in court, while Dr Ojo continues to seek justice against what he describes as a coordinated attempt to illegally seize his property and stifle his investment in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
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