…Seeks Urgent Intervention from President Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Lagos AG, and IGP
A renowned medical doctor and international consultant, Dr. Ojo Ademola Oluwatosin, has made an emotional and desperate appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, SAN, and the Inspector General of Police, calling for their urgent intervention following an alleged forceful and illegal planned takeover of his land in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Dr. Ojo, who was working towards building a world-class specialist hospital for the benefit of Lagosians and Nigerians in Lagos, revealed that his investment and life are under serious threat due to the actions of suspected land grabbers and land speculators.
According to Dr. Ojo, he legally purchased the land located on Admiralty Road, Lekki Phase 1, from Churchgate Nigeria Limited in 2020, and duly perfected the title by obtaining the Governor’s consent and registering the land at the Bureau of Lands, Lagos State.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos at a conference through his lawyer, Mr. Ayodele Osanyinlusi stated that his client secured the necessary building approvals from the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, and Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPA, apart from the Certificate of Occupancy issued in covering the land dated 16th, January, 1990 which gave him the authority to commence the building of his hospital.
Mr. Osanyinlusi stated that the problem started in 2023, when construction began on the hospital project, and about 15 armed policemen accompanied by thugs allegedly stormed the site, violently evicting workers and claiming to be operatives of the Lagos State Task Force, without any verifiable documents or title to the property.
Mr. Osanyinlusi said that it’s the immediate intervention by Dr. Ojo’s attorney, Mr. Ademola Ekundayo, that led to the discovery through the Police that the invaders were not indeed from the Lagos State Task Force, prompting their withdrawal.
Mr. Ayodele Osanyinlusi expressed dismay that despite Maroko Police division intervention, the court order and the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP’s advice dated 15th, August, 2024 and 30th December, 2024, the harassment from the land speculators persisted.
“They returned, broke into the site, vandalised the property, and carted away building materials worth over N30 million Naira,” Mr Osanyinlusi stated.
The lawyer stated that the case was later escalated to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Annex in Alagbon, but efforts to halt the illegal activities faced more challenges, as they were using several falsehoods to invite police from several locations to intimidate the occupants on the land.
Mr. Ayodele Osanyinlusi alleged that the land grabbers, identified behind the illegal activities are one Tunji Solaja, Tope Bolarinde, Engineer Peter Omotosho, and others linked to Starmark Finance Company Limited, who on daily continued their attempts to seize the land.
He said they are boasting, “about knowing people who are highly placed in Lagos State Government, especially with the connection of one Engineer Omotosho who used to be the head of Lagos State Task Force.”
He further disclosed that, when officers at FCID Alagbon refused to yield to pressure, the suspects managed to transfer the case to FCID Abuja, where the narrative was twisted, leading to the arrest of his attorney, Mr. Ekundayo.
Alarmed by the turn of events, the lawyer stated that Dr. Ojo petitioned the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 2, through his legal counsel, resulting in fresh investigations and the eventual filing of a suit at the Lagos State High Court.
He revealed that the court issued an interlocutory injunction restraining Starmark Finance Company Limited and its agents from trespassing or interfering with the land.
According to him, the ruling of the court delivered by Hon. Justice A. O. Idowu granted an order of interlocutory restraining the “Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves, their servants, or agents or privies or otherwise, whosoever from trespassing, harassing, or going into the land or carrying out any activities whatsoever on the land, lying and situate at Plot 1, Block 4, Lekki Peninsula, Scheme 1, Admiralty Road, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State measuring 1, 147.124 square metres vide Deed of Assignment registered as No. 69, page 69, in Volume 2741 of the Land Registry, Ikeja, Lagos State, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.”
Beside the court granted and order: “An order for interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves, their servants, or agents or privies or otherwise, whosoever from using force, thugs, the Police and other agencies of the Government to harass, intimidate, break into the Claimant’s property lying and situate at Plot 1, Block 4, Lekki Peninsula, Scheme 1, Admiralty Road, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State measuring 1,147.124 square meters vide Deed of Assignment registered as No.69, Page 69, in Volume 2741 of the Land Registry, Ikeja, Lagos State, pending the hearing and determination of the Suit.”
The lawyer stated, “Shockingly, despite the court’s injunction and the Director of Public Prosecution’s advice for prosecution of the alleged offenders, the land grabbers continue their attempts to seize the property.
“Reports also suggest they are working to forge documents to sell the land, allegedly boasting of high-level connections within Lagos State Government.
“This is a blatant abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law,” Mr. Osanyinlusi lamented during a press briefing, while calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, and the Inspector General of Police to intervene and protect the investment and life of Dr. Ojo Ademola.
The lawyer warned that 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.
As of now, the matter remains in court, while Dr. Ojo continues to seek justice against what he describes as a calculated attempt to forcefully take over his land and stifle his investment in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
