Land Dispute: Lawyer faults planned Lagos stakeholders’ meeting

2026-02-08 - 17:39

By Henry Ojelu A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Charles Ugwuanyi, has faulted moves by aggrieved parties in an ongoing land dispute, describing the latest push for a stakeholders’ meeting as unnecessary and a continuation of what he earlier termed “desperation” and “forum shopping”. Ugwuanyi had previously accused executive members of the Incorporated Trustees of Peace Residents Association in the Ago area of Lagos of abusing due process by petitioning the state governor and other agencies over a parcel of land belonging to his client, Alhaji Jamiu Olonade, which is already the subject of ongoing court proceedings. He alleged that the petitioners failed to disclose the pendency of the suit in their petitions. He maintained that the land was lawfully acquired by the Lagos State Government from the original owners after it was confirmed as non-committed, and was subsequently sold to his client following all statutory checks, culminating in the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Providing an update on the matter, Ugwuanyi disclosed that the Office of the Permanent Secretary has issued invitations to stakeholders, including community representatives and landowners, for a meeting scheduled for next week. According to him, the development followed a petition alleging irregularities in the approval and administration of the land. While confirming receipt of the invitation, the lawyer questioned the rationale for convening the meeting, arguing that the petition that triggered it ought to have been dismissed outright. “My position remains that there is a presumption of due process in government actions. Even the courts respect that presumption. The government should not contradict itself after following laid-down procedures,” Ugwuanyi said. Reiterating the background of the dispute, he stressed that ownership of the land is not in contention. He explained that the disagreement arose from attempts by certain individuals to use the land as an access road without any government approval or supporting documentation. According to him, when the land was purchased in 2021, it was a swampy bush and was not designated for any public purpose, contrary to claims now being advanced by the petitioners. Ugwuanyi further accused the executives of the Peace Estate Residents Association of approaching multiple forums simultaneously by filing petitions and engaging various agencies, while allegedly concealing that the matter is already before a court of competent jurisdiction. He expressed confidence that the government would ultimately stand by its institutions and established processes, adding that all relevant documents would be presented to show that the acquisition and allocation of the land fully complied with the law. He insisted that while the government has the right to investigate genuine complaints, it must also respect its own machinery and prior decisions, particularly where no evidence has been provided to displace the presumption of regularity that attaches to official acts.