A Nigerian medical doctor based in the United States, Ojo Oluwatosin, is seeking protection from the Lagos State Commissioner of Justice, Lawal Pedro, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against suspected unknown thugs over a parcel of land in the Lekki area of the state.
In an SOS message signed by his lawyer, Ayodele Osanyinlusi, and shared with our correspondent on Monday, the medical doctor stated that the land, currently under litigation in the Lagos State High Court’s lands division, was intended for the construction of a medical hospital.
“Upon the commencement of work and mobilising workers to the land, over 20 thugs stormed the land that was under construction to drive out the workers and other security people,” the SOS partly read.
Meanwhile, a certified true copy of a court ruling dated December 10, 2024, issued by Honourable Justice Akinkunmi Idowu, granted an interlocutory injunction in favour of Oluwatosin, restraining all defendants in the case from approaching the land.
Justice Idowu ruled, “An order for an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants or agents, or privies or otherwise, whoever from trespassing, harassing, or going into the land or carrying out any activities whatsoever on the land, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
“An order for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their servants, or agents, or privies, or otherwise, from using force, thugs, the police, or other agencies of the Federal Government to harass, intimidate, or break into the property… pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”
However, Oluwatosin stated that despite the court ruling, unidentified thugs continued to visit the land on weekends, intimidating and harassing workers.
He called on Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, and the Lagos State Attorney General, Lawal Pedro, to protect his investment and safeguard his life from the suspected perpetrators.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Osanyinlusi called on the authorities to safeguard his client’s life and property, warning that urgent intervention was needed to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
He said, “We do not want violence or chaos. We are law-abiding Nigerians, which is why we are calling on the police and well-meaning citizens to help prevent any bloodshed.”
When asked about the alleged threats and harassment related to the land dispute during a phone conversation with TheNigerian Metro on Monday, Oseni Akerele, a lawyer representing one of the defendants in the suit, declined to comment, stating that he would not speak on a matter currently before the court.
“It will be contemptuous of me to make any comment or statement regarding the case since we have all submitted ourselves to the court’s jurisdiction. If anybody has any grievance, let them go back to the court. We are still in court. The matter has just been adjourned,” Akerele stated before ending the phone conversation.
