Mayomi Afekhuai, Man Linked to Peter Obi Brother’s Demolition Case, Previously Grabbed 88-Year-Old Woman’s Land
On Wednesday, Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, shared on X that the Lagos home of his younger brother, Ndibe Obi, had been demolished.
According to Obi, his brother had operated his business from the property for 15 years and received no demolition notice before excavators moved in to pull down the structure.
This property is located at 57, Oduduwa Crescent in Ikeja’s Government Reserved Area (GRA), Ikeja, Lagos State.
Obi further explained that when he asked to see the authorising documents, he was shown a court order issued against an unknown person, with no name, no address, and no demolition permit.
“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case? No one was served. No name was written. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying a structure that had stood for over 15 years,” Obi wrote in his long thread on the issue.
“I immediately asked the excavators for the person who had sent them, and they said they didn’t know anyone, but they were only informed to come and demolish the house.”
Meanwhile, in response to Obi’s accusation, the Lagos State government distanced itself from the demolition, while also stating that his claims regarding the incident were unfounded.
In the same breath, it said that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) would investigate the incident to clarify the incident.
“The Lagos State Government is compelled to address the recent allegations made by Peter Obi regarding the demolition of a property belonging to his brother. We wish to categorically state that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) or any other arm of the Lagos State Government did not carry out the said demolition,” the statement reads.
“We urge the public to disregard Peter Obi’s claims and rest assured that the Lagos State Government will continue to work tirelessly to maintain law and order in our great state. We will not be swayed by baseless allegations or attempts to discredit our efforts.
“Furthermore, we have directed the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, FNIA, to request a full investigation by the Lagos State Building Control Agency into this matter. This investigation will help clarify the circumstances surrounding the demolition and ensure that any necessary actions are taken.”
However, this conversation has continued to stir controversy on social media, with many people sharing what they say are the original documents to the property.
However, the controversy deepened after new names and documents began to surface. Among them was Deborah Oluwalogbon, listed as the owner of the disputed land, and Mayomi Afekhuai as her legal representative.
A PRECEDENT FROM THE PAST
This isn’t the first time Afekhuai’s name has appeared in a land dispute in Lagos.
In 2021, FIJ reported that Afekhuai was involved in the forceful takeover of a land in Opebi, Ikeja, belonging to Bisi Gbolade, an 88-year-old retired school teacher.
The octogenarian had bought the land in December 1977 and completed the documentation by March of the following year. Her documentation includes a receipt showing the purchase of the land, a copy of the land survey, the deed of the land and the Certificate of Ownership (C of O).
The Kuyesi Awuse family, whom she bought it from, were the first to challenge her over the property, but soon enough, Afekhuai came into the picture in 2004, claiming to be the new buyer.
Together with Chris Tegha, they ensured the case dragged long in court while also enjoying the benefits of renting the property out for money.
Before this, Afekhuai had led thugs to the property, arresting and detaining those who were found on it. They also shot into the air and threatened the people assigned by Gbolade with cutlasses.
Despite losing at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, Afekhuai’s clients continued occupying the land. As of FIJ’s last report, the matter remained stuck at the Supreme Court.
Now, with his reappearance in the Obi property dispute, Nigerians see it as a disturbing pattern.
Eftn, an X user, also claimed Afekhuai is a thug who acts on behalf of land grabbers affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
“Mayomi Afekhuai, the lawyer for the woman who supposedly owns the land, is a thug who acts on behalf of land grabbers,” the user wrote.
“Fisayo Soyombo has written about another case he was involved with. He and the woman are clearly acting on behalf of the real land grabbers, no doubt APC.”
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