A group of foreign investors have raised the alarm over an alleged attempt to unlawfully seize land legally allocated by the Lagos State Government.
In a stetement by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, they alleged that the Minister, under the guise of a federal road construction project, has deviated from approved plans to encroach on private property, a move they described as “reckless,” “illegal,” and “dangerous for Nigeria’s investment reputation.”
Ndarani said the disputed property was obtained through proper channels and involved a consortium of local and international investors. He revealed that the investors had committed over $250 million into the development, with all urban planning permits, title documents, and state government approvals duly acquired and perfected.
“This is not an ordinary case of bureaucratic disagreement. It is a clear case of abuse of office and unlawful expropriation. A federal road project route was diverted by approximately seven kilometres away from the originally gazetted path just to forcefully claim this land. This action has no basis in law, no gazette to support it, and no jurisdiction under the Constitution,” Ndarani said.
According to him, the property’s seizure not only undermines state authority over land matters but also constitutes a breach of Sections 1 of the Land Use Act and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which protect citizens and investors against unlawful acquisition of private property.
The SAN emphasised that, “No federal agency, including the Ministry of Works, can override land rights properly granted by a state government without following due legal process.”
According to him, the reported use of armed military personnel to enforce the alleged takeover is alarming. Ndarani recounted how on May 4, 2025, armed men in military uniform stormed the project site, destroyed parts of the development, and abducted a site worker, Olamide Obanla, who has since remained missing.
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“They came in broad daylight, fully armed, with no court order, no notice of acquisition, and no explanation. Mr. Obanla was assaulted, dragged into a vehicle, and taken away. To date, we have no information on his whereabouts. This is not only an abuse of power, it is a grave violation of human rights and an attack on Nigeria’s already fragile image as a safe destination for business,” Ndarani declared.
The chambers has made six demands, urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately intervene. These include a public statement reaffirming respect for rule of law, a legal clarification by the Attorney-General of the Federation on the limits of federal power over land, and an investigation by the National Assembly into the “unauthorised deployment of military force against civilians.”
They also called on the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the use of military uniforms for a non-military land dispute, and most urgently, the immediate release of Mr. Obanla.
“This situation is not just about land. It touches the very foundation of our democracy, the rule of law, and the integrity of government institutions. If investors with valid documents and approvals can be treated like this, then no one is safe,” Ndarani warned.