Lagos real estate firm seeks police help for Lekki property amid disputes

A real estate company in Lagos, Skyview Properties Limited, has asked for police protection to continue work on a disputed land in Lekki.

The company made the request through a letter from its lawyers at C. O. Toyin Pinheiro & Co. to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 2, Lagos.

In the letter dated 21 October, which PREMIUM TIMES obtained on Thursday, the law firm said its client wants to develop the land at Plot 37, Block 77, Lekki Peninsula Scheme I. They are worried about possible resistance or disturbances.

This request comes after a Lagos State High Court ruled in favor of Skyview, recognizing its interest in the land.

The letter mentioned that the ruling was given by Judge K. A. Jose on 30 June 2025. It was signed by Ifeoluwa Adebambo and asked the police to protect the company’s representatives during the planned construction.

Skyview also stated it is ready to support the police with any logistics needed for their deployment.

This request follows claims by businessman Akeem Ogunseye. He alleged that AIG Jimoh Moshood and other police officers sent armed personnel and machinery to demolish structures on the land, ignoring court orders.

Mr Ogunseye said he got his interest in the land from his elder brother, Samuel Ajibode. He has filed complaints with the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the National Assembly. He accuses some officers of abuse of power, land grabbing, forced entry, damage, and ignoring court orders.

In his petition dated 27 October, submitted via his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, he asked for an investigation into the demolition and disciplinary measures against any officers found guilty.

Mr Ogunseye mentioned that the dispute is in the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, under appeal number CA/LAG/CV/123/2025. He claims the appellate court ordered that both parties maintain the status quo and stopped the execution of the High Court ruling.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm the Court of Appeal orders or the events leading to the demolition.

Skyview responds to allegations

Skyview has denied the allegations, stating that it legally bought the land. The company insists the lower court’s ruling is still valid and in its favor.

Skyview described the claims against it and AIG Moshood as “frivolous,” “cheap blackmail,” and a “campaign of calumny.”

The company said Mr Moshood only intervened to maintain peace and advised everyone not to take the law into their own hands since the matter is in court.

Skyview also challenged Mr Ogunseye’s claim that the appeal stops it from taking possession of the land. The company noted that neither Mr Ajibode nor Mr Ogunseye has an order to stop it from enforcing the court ruling.

The company returned to the land to continue development after the ruling barred Mr Ajibode, his agents, and others from trespassing or harassing its representatives.

Background of the dispute

The dispute is about a piece of land measuring 1,631.32 square meters, approved for residential use, which originally belonged to Mr Ajibode.

In the ruling on 30 June 2025, the Lagos State High Court ordered Mr Ajibode to pay N10 million in damages and N2 million in costs after finding that he had sold his interest in the land to Skyview.

According to the court documents shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, the court dismissed Mr Ajibode’s counterclaim and confirmed Skyview’s interest through a deed of assignment signed by him and registered as No. 37 at Page 37 in Volume 2491 of the Lagos State Lands Registry.

Skyview told the court it acquired the land from Yomi Edu, who bought it from Mr Ajibode. The company claimed Mr Edu gave them the Certificate of Occupancy after the deal, allowing them to take possession.

Skyview then fenced the land and built a boys’ quarters. It later approached Mr Ajibode to clarify the title documents, paid him N500,000, and obtained a deed of assignment and Form 1C.

Mr Ajibode denied selling the land to Mr Edu or Skyview. He said he was negotiating a separate N50 million sale with the company’s lawyer and that the N500,000 was just a deposit for that deal.

He also claimed that his signatures on the documents presented by Skyview were forged.

His lawyer, J. M. Afekhuai, questioned Skyview’s story, asking why Mr Edu was not called as a witness and how Skyview got the original Certificate of Occupancy.

The defense provided a forensic report, Exhibit C11, claiming it showed that the signatures on the disputed documents were not genuine.

Skyview’s lawyer, Kolade Obafemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that the company presented enough proof of the transfer, including forensic reports from the Lagos State Police Command and the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department in Kaduna.

Court's decision on forgery

Judge Jose looked at the conflicting accounts of the N500,000 payment and the forensic reports from both sides.

The judge noted that Mr Ajibode admitted to meeting the company’s lawyer in 2009 and receiving the money but contested its purpose.

The court accepted Skyview’s view that the payment was linked to the execution of the documents transferring the property. It dismissed Mr Ajibode’s claim that the money was just a deposit for a planned N50 million sale.

On the forgery claim, Skyview provided two forensic reports. One was from the Lagos State Police Command, marked Exhibit C1, and another from the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department in Kaduna, marked Exhibit C4.

A handwriting expert who testified for Skyview stated that the signatures on the deed of assignment, Form 1C, cheque, and sample documents were made by the same person.

The expert, known as SPW2, acknowledged that he also prepared Exhibit C11, which reached a different conclusion.

He explained that the earlier report used three sample documents, while the Lagos report used six. The court accepted his explanation, noting that the defense did not challenge it.

Mr Jose accepted the Kaduna report and found that Mr Ajibode signed the disputed documents.

The judge also considered evidence that Skyview had taken possession of the land and built a boys’ quarters, which Mr Ajibode admitted to demolishing.

Another deed of assignment for the same property involving David Aderinokun was also reviewed. The judge said it suggested that Mr Ajibode tried to transfer his interest in the property again after the deal with Skyview.

The court ruled that Mr Ajibode had sold his interest in the land to Skyview and could no longer be seen as the holder of the Certificate of Occupancy.

It prohibited him, his agents, and others from trespassing on the property or harassing the company’s representatives.

The judge awarded Skyview N10 million for the harassment, trouble, embarrassment, and falsehood it faced, plus N2 million in costs.

The court also dismissed claims about the title revocation by the Lagos State Government after government officials showed that the revocation was reversed and the property was released.