Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) has sealed a construction site on Plot 18, Block J, Seagate Estate, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, over a dispute on land ownership and title documentation.
The enforcement, carried out on the directives from the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, follows a petition by United States-based Nigerian, Dr. John Umude, who claims to be the rightful owner of the disputed property, at 18 Yinka George Street, off Sparr Road.
According to Umude, who has lived in the U.S. since 1975, he acquired Plots16 and 18 in 1994 and remained the registered assignee of Plot 18 after selling Plot 16 in 2013. He alleged the property was illegally encroached upon in 2021, with new construction initiated by individuals claiming ownership most notably, Frank Uche Ezeala, a lawyer.
Efforts to secure a court injunction were initially thwarted by procedural issues, including the incorrect spelling of the defendant’s name and incomplete court filings. Umude later withdrew the suit and refiled based on revised title documentation and a newly submitted survey plan, adjusting the plot size to 800 square meters.
Last October, he petitioned the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, requesting scrutiny of the building activity and permits. A letter dated March 25, this year, from the ministry indicated that investigations had been concluded and that enforcement measures would follow.
Sources in the ministry confirmed that stakeholders, including estate developers Harris Property and officials from the Surveyor-General’s Office were consulted during the review. A Stop Work Order and Notice to Seal were issued after the property developers failed to comply with their directives.
“The sealing of the property is purely regulatory and should not be interpreted as a judgment on land ownership,” a senior official stated.
“Our focus is ensuring due process and safeguarding the public against potential legal and safety risks, especially regarding the sale of flats on a property under active dispute,” the source said.
A representative for Ezeala refuted Umude’s claims. He asserted that the sealing stemmed from administrative oversights, specifically the failure to remit land rent and statutory fees not from a land title dispute.
The representative said a property consultant hired for this purpose had defaulted, prompting a petition to law enforcement agencies to investigate and recover the funds
