A group of landowners in Lagos has asked the Federal High Court in Ikoyi to stop the Federal Government from demolishing an estate in Okun-Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
The estate, which sits on 18.8 hectares of land, is in the path of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
The case, marked FHC/L/CS/1063/25, was filed by the Foreign Investors Network of Nigeria, the owners of the estate. They sued the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Works, the Controller of Works in Lagos, and HITECH Construction Company.
The estate, known as Winhomes Global Services Estate, is fully developed and has all legal documents, including a Certificate of Occupancy, a Governor’s consent, a survey plan, and building approvals. The estate also has several residents and buyers who have acquired property under power of attorney agreements.
The estate owners said the government changed the road route between Chainage 16 + 500 and 17 + 500 without following due process. This new route would pass directly through their estate.
Their lawyer, Valerian Nadike, said in court documents that no notice, warning, or hearing was given before government workers marked buildings for demolition. He described the government’s actions as “executive lawlessness.”
“The attempted demolition of the Plaintiff’s estate without lawful acquisition, gazette, or compensation is wrong,” Nadike said. “No government official can ignore people’s rights, no matter how good their intention is.”
He also pointed out that the government failed to follow the original 2004/2006 road plan and instead chose a new path that affects their property.
The estate owners are asking the court for nine things, including: A declaration that the government’s actions are illegal and should be cancelled, An order to stop any further interference with the property and A payment of ₦900 million as compensation for the marking, threats, and damage
They also want the court to confirm that the lack of official notice and the new road plan is a violation of their rights under the Nigerian Constitution.
Part of the court filing reads: “At no time was the estate issued with any statutory notice, demolition order, or allowed to defend itself. This goes against Sections 36 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution.”
The plaintiffs attached several documents to support their case, including the land title papers, photographs showing the markings on their buildings, and protest letters sent to the Ministry of Works.
They are also asking the court to order the Ministry of Works to follow the law by issuing proper notices if any part of the estate must be affected.
“This is about protecting the rights of law-abiding Nigerians and investors,” Nadike added. “If the government is allowed to continue without following the law, it sets a dangerous example.”
As of the time of reporting, no date had been fixed for the hearing, but the defendants have 30 days to respond to the suit.
