A long-running and complex legal battle over the true ownership of a vast expanse of land in Akodo, within the Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, has triggered a strong warning to prospective buyers.
The warning was issued in a statement jointly signed by the Alakodo of Ibeju Land, Oba Abdul-Hakeem Olokodana; Prince Kehinde Jamiu Hassan; and Alhaja Taibat Ogunkoya (née Olojodana).
According to the statement, the Oba Olumoye family, who describe themselves as the original owners of the land, had cautioned members of the public against purchasing any portion of Akodo land, noting that the title remains the subject of multiple ongoing court cases.
The ownership dispute involves no fewer than four prominent families — Oba Olumoye, Ogberi, Otuwa and Olasehinde, as well as several real estate companies, all laying claim to different portions of the Akodo territory.
The legal entanglement dates back several decades and is rooted in judgments delivered by the Supreme Court in the 1920s, specifically in 1925 and 1926. These historic rulings covered parts of Akodo land, including Iraye, Ounshato and Eputa areas.
The depth of the crisis could be seen in the number of unresolved lawsuits currently before the courts.
One of such cases, Suit No. EPO/8288/LMW/2019, was instituted by descendants of Oba Olumoye against 16 families and 10 real estate companies. The suit challenged the ownership claims of other families, including the Ogberi family.
Although the Court of Appeal judgment in Suit No. CA/L/1082/2014 appeared to favour the Ogberi family and others against the Chief Olutoye family, the decision was later compromised and resolved through a consent judgment in Suit No. LD/2861GCM/2018.
The consent judgment reportedly declared Akodo land communal property and apportioned ownership between the Ogberi family (55 per cent) and the Akodo Community (45 per cent).
However, the Oba Olumoye family maintained that the consent judgment does not bind them, as they were not parties to the agreement.
The Oba Olumoye family had also joined ongoing suits marked LD/6030/2014 and EPD/8263/LMW/2019, initiated by the Otuwa family and others, to assert a counterclaim to the ownership of the entire Akodo land.
In another related case, Suit No. EPO/2171/LMW/2016, instituted by the Kehinde-Eledie family against the Amure family and others, the Oba Olumoye family has equally entered the proceedings to counterclaim ownership of a parcel of land known as Igbo Alagba Village Excision, Akodo.
The Oba Olumoye family further alleged that the Ogberi family and the Akodo Community, represented by the Baale of Akodo, Chief Adebayo Mutairu Oguntaya, are misleading the public by presenting the Court of Appeal judgment or misrepresenting the consent judgment as conclusive proof of ownership, without disclosing the existence of pending legal challenges.
“The entire peace arrangement between the Ogberi family and the Akodo Community has collapsed,” a representative of the Oba Olumoye family said.
The dispute, according to the family, has degenerated into physical confrontations involving land grabbers, popularly known as omo-onile, in blatant disregard of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive prohibiting self-help in land matters.
Speaking on the implications for investors, Kunle Alabi, a legal analyst familiar with land disputes in Lagos, warned of the grave risks involved.
“Once a land title is sub judice, that is, under judicial consideration, any transaction carried out on such land is vulnerable to being nullified by a subsequent court decision,” he explained.
Reiterating their caution, the Oba Olumoye family stressed that the ownership of Akodo land remains subject to the final determination of all pending cases.
“Any buyer who ignores this warning risks purchasing nothing and may ultimately be evicted by the rightful owners,” the family stated.
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