By: Fashina Shakiru.
The Managing Director, Dapo Ola Investment Limited, Alhaji Hakeem Olawuyi, aka, Dapo Ola Developer, has alleged that a popular socialite in Lagos Island, Mr. Sikiru Nollah demolished one of his property estimated to have cost about N800 million, located at No 20A Church Street, Idumota, Lagos.
Dapo Ola Developer explained that Nollah used thugs to demolish the four (4) storey building, with over fifty 50 apartment rooms, shops, and stores, rendering tenants and workers homeless and jobless.
Our correspondent who visited the scene gathered that the hoodlums with dangerous weapons on Friday 31st March 2023 and Saturday 1st April 2023, stormed No 20A Church street, Idumota Area in Lagos Island, Lagos state and illegally demolished over 50 apartment rooms, shops, and stores among other property worth Eight million naira, (N800,000,000:00).
The occupiers, tenants, and shop owners while lamenting the unlawful invasion and destruction noted that no prior knowledge or notice was given to them before they saw their investment brought to ruins.
A tenant in the building who refused his name in print said Nollah lacked human sympathy to have bought thugs to perpetrate such violence and destroyed his only means of livelihood.
His words:” I have a shop where I sell goods, and even store them. On Saturday morning, I was at home when I received a call that Sikiru Nollah and his thugs have started demolishing the building.
” I rushed to my shop and started moving my goods, which they refused. I had to pay the hoodlums N5000, and with my influence in the area, my goods were removed. Some of my goods were destroyed. And the impact of this demolition is terrible on my family as my wife just gave birth. I have been stranded moving from one place to the other as I no longer have a shop.
” I don’t know what caused the demolition. However, I know who I paid my rent to in almost ten years I have stayed here. And it’s Alhaji Hakeem Olawuyi of Dapo Ola Developer.
“He is the one everyone pay to his account and rightful Lessor and Developer to the property. This demolition has mentally stressed me. I pray the matter is resolved soon,” the shop owner lamented.
Meanwhile, documents cited showed that on the 2nd August 2010, the property was initially leased to Dapo Ola Investment Limited by one Mr. Ajileye Ismail Bello and Mr. Dada Owokunle Monsuru.
The duo was assigned to manage “Vendors” of the property for Kumeifo Oba Olaribigbe family, with seven children as the owners and accredited full representative of the property at No 20A church street Idumota Lagos Island.
The said agreement according to documents obtained reads that Between Mr. Ajileye Ismail Bello and Mr. Dada Owokunle Monsuru (hereinafter called “Vendors” which expression shall where the context so admit includes their heirs, personal legal representatives successors in title and assigns) of the first part and Dapo Ola Investment Limited (hereinafter called “Purchaser” which expression shall where the context so admits include its successors in title and assigns) of the second part.
The said property lease is expected to expire on October 2016, according to the agreement signed. In a statement made by the Lessor, the managing Director, Dapo Ola Investment Limited, Alhaji Hakeem Olawuyi said “l paid the sum of five million naira due unexpired residue interest for that remaining (five) 5 years.
“After the payment, I realised that they have collected five years of rent beyond the lease period on the property.
Meanwhile, a quit notice was served for the renovation of the building but tenants of the building challenged me the matter was later resolved along with the tenants and family.
Thereafter, a new agreement was made on the 23rd day of April 2017 where the family demises the premises to Dapo Ola Investment, Limited for renovation development assigned to renovate demised premises of the property for a term of Ten (10) years till 2027.
The new agreement sighted by our correspondent read: “The owners herein before mentioned as owners are the children of beneficiary Kumeifo Oba Olaribigbe (Deceased) who are now the owners by virtues of inheritance have approached Dapo Ola investment limited, the Developer to enter, demolish, build, and construct the property into a three (3) storey befitting and modern structure at the developer’s expense.”
Fast forward, to 2021, the Lagos state building control agency, LSBCA, inspected and tested the building, and gave certified assurance despite instigating them in the first instance, Olawuyi disclosed.
According to Dapo Ola Developer, Sikiru Nollah instigated a government agency to mark the building for distress/demolition. As a result, I approached the same family to extend the lease for another 22 years to enable me to rebuild the house to the required standard to provide the necessary funds to finance the development and building of the property to a befitting and modern structure.
The said agreement to quit all the tenants and occupiers on or before the 31st day of August 2022 and to commence execution of the building construction period and complete same within Twenty 12 months from the 1st day of September 2022 and completed same on or before the 31st Day of August 2023.
The building leasehold of Twenty-Two (22) years then commences from the 1st day of September 2023 to the 31st day of August 2045.
Narrating the ordeal, Dapo Ola Developer noted that on Friday, 31st March 2023 policemen from Area A Police Command affected the arrest of the suspect who wanted to demolish four (4) storey building without any legal right or power of attorney.
Thereafter, The Nigeria Police invited Sikiru Nollah and his cohorts and the Lessors, and Dapo Ola Developer to the Lion Building for questioning.
There, the issue was resolved, with Mr. Nollah warned to stop the use of thugs to cause chaos for occupiers and developers of the building.
However, to my greatest surprise, the following morning on Saturday 1st of April, 2023. I received a distress call that Nollah mobilized thugs and hoodlums armed with lethal weapons to forcefully enter, chase away the legal occupiers and tenants of the property, and started demolition of the building and property looted.
Olawuyi narrating the ordeal said that all the family representatives and lessors moved to the scene to stop the demolition only to see five (5 ) state CID officers from Panti used to intimidate people at the scene of the incident.
He added that Spokesperson and secretary of the Kumeifo Oba Olaribigbe family, Mr. Lateef Tiamiyu who was later released, expressed displeasure with the way State CID from Panti colluded with Sikiru Nollah to demolish the property.
“The petition has been filed against Sikiru Nollah to the Inspector General of Police, through the Commissioner of Police Lagos state, and Area A Police Command in Lagos Island on the matter with some arrest made.
“I am also appealing to the Lagos state government to intervene in this case before it gets out of hand. Nollah is known for notorious and nefarious activities. He can be dangerous and harm, so life and family are at risk”, Olawuyi said.
Speaking with our correspondent, Tiamiyu said: “No member of our family has any agreement or signed documents with one Sikiru Nollah and he has no right to trespass and demolished the property.” He said.
According to him, I am one of the family owners of the property of Kumeifo Oba Olaribigbe family at No 20A church street Idumota Lagos and the family representative lessor of the property. We have been in the possession of this property for over 27 years.
Suddenly, hearing from people that Sikiru Nollah trespassed on our property and threatened the occupiers and tenants of the building property. I want to say clearly that no one should have anything to do with him because he has never been authorized or given power of attorney to manage or have Kumeifo Oba Olaribigbe’s family property at No 20A Church Street Idumota Lagos.
Speaking with Sikiru Nollah on phone, he said that the property was given to him by the family in 2011.
His words: “There is a developer whose tenure expired in 2022 and he backdated the agreement. A six month quit-notice was served to the occupiers of the apartment to vacate the property.” Nollah insisted.
On who gave the property to him, and why he brought thugs to demolish the said property, Nollah declined to respond.
But when asked which family assigned the property of Kumeifo Oba Olaribigbe to him, he declined to respond, and said his lawyer has a right to answer that.
When asked why he led thugs and hoodlums to demolish a property with no legal authority, Sikiru Nollah declined further comments.
As at the time of filling this report, he was yet to get back through his lawyer or offer any defense.
