By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria, Lagos – It was harrowing experience for the residents of Dada Asani Village, Surulere, near Suberu-Oje in Alagbado, Lagos State, watching their abodes they had laboured to put in place for years, fall under the heavy weight of bulldozer due to a lingering and contentious litigation over ownership of the fully developed area, a scenario that aptly aligns with the saying that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that will suffer.
The demolition exercise, which commenced on Monday, February 2, 2026, apparently requiring judicial interpretation of the contentious judgments, has sparked controversy, with the family of Nurudeen Adewale and Bros. Nig. Ltd, aside from condemning the wanton destruction, has called out on the Lagos State High Court Deputy Sheriff to Indicate the judgement for which the execution was being carried out.
Prior to the demolition, a public notice was served on the residents, saying “The general public is hereby notified that, pursuant to the High Court of Lagos State judgement, delivered on Friday, the 13th day of January, 2011, and the ruling delivered on Wednesday, the 28th day of February, 2025 in suit No: ID/733M/2000, between Federal Housing Authority and Nurudeen Adewale & Bros Nig. Ltd. & two others by His Lordship, Honourable Justice O. O. Oke (Mrs.) and suit No: ID/480/2000, between Nurudeen Adewale & Bros. Nig. Ltd and Olajide Francis & 10 others, delivered by His Lordship M. O. Obadina 25th day of February, 2025, respectively, wherein the honourable court delivered that the Federal Housing Authority and residents of the Federal Housing Authority, Abesan 6, Surulere, Alagbado, Lagos State, be restored to the possession forthwith.”
Also, the Caveat Emptor noted that lawful execution of the said judgement in suit No: ID/732/2000 had been carried out, stating that” all inquiries on the said landed properties be directed to the solicitors – Ademola Akerele Esq at Suite 20/21, Happy Home Plaza on Olusola Afolabi Street, Ekoro in Abule-Egba, Lagos.
However, in a letter addressed to the office of the Deputy Sheriff, dated January 27, 2026, which was an apparent reaction to the public notice, attorneys to the family of Nurudeen Adewale and Bros. (Nig) Ltd., Destiny & Lawlords, demanded to know the particular Judgement being executed by the Sheriff, and went further to apply for the certified true copy of the warrant of execution and every other documents emanating from that office, ordering the said execution
The letter was titled “Clarification of The Judgement Presently Being Carried Out at Dada Asani Village, Surulere, Near Suberu-Oje, Alagbon, Lagos State.
Destiny & Lawlords firm equally referred to the judgements in Suit nos: ID/732M/2010, delivered by Hon. Justice O. O. Oke on January 31, 2011 and ID/480/2002, delivered by Hon. Justice O. M. Obadina (Mrs.).
In his arguments, solicitors to Nurudeen Adewale and Bros Nig. Ltd. deposed that the Federal Housing Authority, one of the claimants to the disputed land, was struck out from the suit by Hon. M. O. Obadina on January 11, 2024, “and the entire suit was also subsequently struck out.”
According to the law firm, “It is, therefore, a surprise when information got to our client that the Sheriff of this court are executing the judgement in Suit No: ID/732M/2010, delivered by Hon. Justice O. O. Oke on 31st January, 2011 over our client’s land at Dada Asani Village, Surulere, near Suberu-Oje, Alagbado, Lagos State.”
Continuing, Destiny & Lawlords noted that Suit No: ID/732M/2010, delivered by Hon. Justice O. O. Oke on 31st January, 2011, “which is being purportedly executed by the Deputy Sheriff of this court was predicated, founded and premised upon Suit No: ID/480/2002, wherein the name of the Federal Housing Authority, as the 1st defendant, had been struck out on the 11th January, 2024 by Hon. M. O. Obadina,” the implication of which, according to the law firm, means that the FHA was no longer a party before the court.
Furthermore, according to attorneys to Nurudeen Adewale and Bros Nig Ltd., a similar attempt to execute this contentious judgement was made in 2013, when the FHA, through their solicitor, Olutayo Banjoko Esq., wrote to the Deputy Sheriff of the court to execute this same judgement, “but the Deputy Sheriff responded, vide letter dated 9th December, 2013, rejecting his application for execution and further informed the counsel representing Federal Housing Authority that it is our client’s judgement that takes effect, if any execution ought to be done.”
Destiny & Lawlords exclaimed: “Surprisingly, on the 26th day of January, 2026, the Sheriff of this Honourable Court, with the assistance of Police officers, miscreants and thugs came to execute the judgement in Suit No: ID/732M/2010, delivered by Hon. Justice O. O. Oke, on our client’s land at Dada Asani Village, Surulere, near Suberu-Oje, Alagbado, Lagos State, when the same Deputy Sheriff had already issued a letter dated 9th December, 2013. The Sheriff of this Honourable Court that came to execute the said judgement claimed they were executing the judgement on behalf of the Federal Housing Authority.”
He also expressed consternation that the Deputy Sheriff of the Lagos State High Court could connive with officials of the FHA, “Who are judgement debtor in Suit No: ID/480/2002, and whose name had been struck out by the court, went ahead to apply for the execution of the judgement, Suit No: ID/732M/2010, when their interest has been extinguished by virtue of the ruling of Hon. Justice M. A. Obadina of 11th January, 2024.”
