Court Grants Possession of Ikeja GRA Property to Deborah Olorunlogbon Amid Squatter Controversy
A high-profile property dispute at No. 57 Oduduwa Crescent, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, has taken a significant legal turn after the Lagos State High Court granted possession of the property to Mrs. Deborah Olorunlogbon, following months of legal proceedings, documentation reviews, and a final court-sanctioned enforcement.
Mrs. Olorunlogbon, who was allocated the land through a government process and issued a valid Certificate of Occupancy, had dragged unknown squatters to court for illegally occupying the property.
The legal proceedings culminated in a ruling by Justice A.M. Lawal of Court 31, Lands Division of the Lagos High Court on May 20, 2024, in suit number ID/4378LM/2023, in her favour.
The court ruled that the defendant described as “Person Unknown” failed to respond to court notices or appear to contest the suit. The court granted Mrs. Olorunlogbon possession of the property and awarded ₦2 million in costs.
“The implication of this is that the Defendant is taken to have admitted the facts of the Claimant and is also taken to have conceded to the relief asked for by the Claimant,” the ruling stated.
On June 19, 2025, officials of the Lagos State Judiciary, led by Sheriff Bolarewaju Seyi and Deputy Sheriff A. Etefia executed the warrant of possession. The Certificate of Execution of Warrant of Possession, issued the following day, confirmed that the land was peacefully reclaimed from the illegal occupants.
Mrs. Deborah Olorunlogbon possesses a Certificate of Occupancy issued on February 12, 2025. The C of O is registered in Volume 2025, Page 92 of the Lagos State Land Registry. The land, described as Plot 4, Block 25, Oduduwa Crescent, was properly surveyed and documented under Plan No. LS/D/LA 5787B/74. A certified survey plan drawn and countersigned by government surveyors, official registration fee receipts confirming payments, and certified entries from the Lagos State Land Registry all support her legal claim to the property.
A solicitor’s letter from Rose of Sharon Solicitors dated June 2, 2025, also affirms the property ownership and requests police protection during enforcement.
The solicitor’s petition alleged that unknown persons forcibly occupied the premises and ignored repeated warnings to vacate. It noted that legal judgment had been secured and urged the police to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Following the petition, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 2 Command) invited Mr. Ejike and Alhaji Babagana Abubakri for questioning over alleged conspiracy, forcible entry, and threats to life. A police fact-finding invitation dated June 17, 2025, was issued.
A handwritten witness statement dated June 21, 2025, outlined the allocation history of the land to Mrs. Olorunlogbon, her legal documentation, and her efforts to reclaim the land peacefully. The statement also documented the resistance faced during enforcement and noted that the matter had been fully adjudicated in court.
The property dispute became a topic of viral interest after a video surfaced on Instagram showing former presidential candidate Peter Obi reportedly telling men at the scene to stop demolishing the house and leave the premises. His comments were interpreted by some as opposition to the enforcement action. Despite public emotion and political undertones, the legal documents show that the repossession was not politically motivated.
The enforcement was carried out under a valid court judgment and executed in accordance with legal procedures. There is no existing injunction or counter-ruling, barring enforcement of the judgment.
Mrs. Olorunlogbon, through her legal representatives, dismissed political insinuations, insisting that the matter was handled strictly through proper judicial channels and that her right to reclaim her land was upheld by both the court and law enforcement.
This case underscores the importance of legal documentation in property disputes, particularly in high-value areas such as Ikeja GRA. It also highlights how misinformation and public perception can easily cloud legal facts, especially when public figures become tangentially involved.
With the court ruling enforced, Mrs. Olorunlogbon now retains full legal possession of No. 57, Oduduwa Crescent, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
