Exposing the New Antics of Land Grabbers in Lagos State – Brown Justice

Land Use Act was introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria in order to bestow legitimacy to land transactions across the federation irrespective of tribe, language or place of origin but the latest antics employed by some land grabbers and their collaborators especially in Lagos State is now something of great concern.

This was the case of Chief Ndubuisi Umeh, a resident of Lagos State who bought two plots of land measuring approximately 1249.336 Square meter at Ocean Breeze Estate, Maiyegun Village in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos from the Maiyegun family through Alhaji Moshood Enifeni.

The family was represented by Chief Wasiu Arimi Maiyegun, Chief Jamiu Ganiu Maiyegun and Chief Muyitab Mukaila Maiyegun for the deal which Wasiu Arimi Maiyegun was the Baale of Maiyegun Town as at the time of the land transaction.

However, Chief Ndubuisi Umeh developed the land by building five-story building, erecting fence and another building which served as warehouse loaded with goods in it with survey plan and Governor’s consent as the title documents.

But problems started when he received a phone call from his security guard on 26th September 2024, informing him that some persons were demolishing his fence and his warehouse.

Accordingly, he contacted the Ilasan Divisional Police Officer who mobilized his men to the scene where one Ezekiel Olayinka, Adegbite Adeyemi and Shittu Adewuyi were caught and arrested by the police at the scene of the demolition and were handed over for investigation.

During interrogation, Mr. Ezekiel Olayinka said that he purchased the same portion of land from the Maiyegun family through Wasiu Arimi Maiyegun, the then Baale of the town and that his own land was measuring 1441.056 Square Meter.

Adding that he mobilized Adegbite Adeyemi and Shittu Adewuyi as labourers to demolish the warehouse and evacuate all the goods in it to Ndubuisi Umeh’s five stories building on the same land after the warehouse was completely brought down without a court order.

However, Chief Muyitab Mukaila, the Oloriebi of the Maiyegun family in his own statement said that he became the Baale of Maiyegun Town in 2018 and that Chief Wasiu Arimi Maiyegun who sold the same portion of land to Chief Ndubuisi Umeh was his senior brother before he was removed.

Despite being one of the signatories that endorsed the land sold to Chief Ndubuisi Umeh, the new Baale of the Maiyegun Town, Chief Muyitab Mukaila Maiyegun denied ever knowing Ndubuisi Umeh nor having any knowledge concerning the land transaction.

Meanwhile, a team of policemen led by SP Wasiu Ademola with all the parties involved in the matter visited the scene of the crime and a prima facie case of conspiracy, forcible entry, malicious damage and conducts likely to cause breach of peace, law and order was established.

The affected parties were brought before the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos.

The force however advised the parties to go and see if they could adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism and return with a feedback to the police for next action.

Nevertheless, before the agreed date of return to the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Lagos, a signal was received from Admin FCID Abuja Team, ordering the transfer of the duplicate case file to Abuja and the directive was immediately complied with.

Since 2024, the parties have been waiting for action from the FCID Abuja with no hope in view.

The worst part is that some of the parties involved in case are now boasting that they have killed the case and nothing will happen.

The question is, what type of investigation is the FCID Abuja conducting that it has not concluded it’s investigation since 2024?

Could it be that someone is using his influence to delay the report of the investigation at the force Headquarters owning to the fact that some high profile persons are involved?

A visit to the scene of the incident by this reporter showed that everything including the warehouse has been in limbo.

What message is the action of the FCID Abuja sending to the international community and other investors about Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and quick dispensation of justice?

The essence of doing business is to make profits but if such efforts is been hampered by unnecessary administrative bottlenecks and delay tactics as employed by the FCID Abuja, then one can question the true commitment of the Nigerian Police Force to the Ease of Doing Business Policy of the Tinubu’s administration.

Mr. Brown Justice files this report from Lagos.