Lai Omotola, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chief in Lagos State, is attempting to take possession of a property on 22, Molade Okoya Thomas Street in Victoria Island, but its occupants say his claims are unlawful.
Thugs have also gained forceful entry into the premises, and they had to be chased out by soldiers on at least one occasion.
Omotola told FIJ that he was acting on behalf of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Federal Government Landed Property and his mandate was to recover properties for the federal government.
This property, now occupied by Okhams Foods Limited, has been the subject of months of debate and multiple police interventions, but while the Zone 2 police have been invited to probe Omotola’s claims, Bernard Onigah, a lawyer acting on behalf of the occupants, claims that the police have refused to probe the matter.
Onigah claimed that CSP Taofeeq Tijani, in charge of Zonal Monitoring in Zone 2, was compromised and unwilling to investigate the matter properly.
“This is the CSP in charge of Zonal monitoring in Zone 2 where this matter was reported. But since we reported the case, he has not as much as invited Lai Omotola, and I have asked him over and over again. He said he is no longer interested in investigating the case,” Onigah told FIJ.
“That is because we suspect that he is on the payroll of Omotola. Lai has told us that he is using the police to get a forfeiture order.”
When FIJ texted Tijani, he said, “If you need any info about my office, you can apply officially. I don’t talk official issues via social links, especially with unknown person or persons.”
FIJ told him that the matter related to claims made about him personally, and he said, “You can come up with your proof of that, if it ever exists.”
BACKGROUND
The PIC on Federal Government Landed Property is tasked with selling or leasing government-owned properties and implementing the white paper on the alienation of such assets, and it operates under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Over the years, it has faced criticism over its approach to recovering properties.
In February, Onigah told FIJ that Omotola was trying to claim the property after saying that it belongs to the federal government.
He issued a caveat emptor to the public, warning that no one should engage in any dealing with Omotola on the property.
The public notice reads, “The public is hereby advised to exercise extreme caution. In particular, the public should be wary of any dealings with one Mr Lai Omotola, who has been allegedly linked to disputes and complaints relating to violent entry and land grabbing within Lagos, and is fondly and allegedly described as a notorious land grabber and conman on multiple online commentaries and blogs.”
Onigah also referenced a publication in which the Lagos State ministry of justice faulted Omotola.
When FIJ called Omotola, he claimed that he had the blessing of the PIC, and that the publication was dated.
Via WhatsApp, he shared more details to defend his position. When FIJ asked him to prove his relationship with the PIC, he said, “If you read my letter, you would see that I am a consultant to PIC. He has petition to Zone 2, so he should allow police carry their investigation.”
Omotola also sent a copy of a letter he sent to the PIC’s Abuja office.
He also revealed that he got an invitation letter from the Zone on February 10, but did not confirm whether he would honour it.
Afterwards, he said that his media officer would attend to the rest of FIJ’s questions. This media officer never did.
Omotola sent a memorandum of claim to Onigah, describing his caveat emptor as defamatory.
Meanwhile, Onigah told FIJ that Omotola had begun marketing the property to potential buyers. “He has put the property up for sale. We have seen that he put out the property for sale and people are bidding.”
FIJ also obtained phone conversations between Onigah and members of the PIC leadership in Abuja. During these talks, they said, “We gave him a consulting letter. When he gets there, he will show you.”
They confirmed that he does not work with them, but offered to consult.
FIJ also obtained videos of street urchins occupying the property and fleeing when armed security personnel arrived at the scene.
While Onigah was insisting on Omotola going to court to make his case or responding to the Zone 2, the APC chief took the matter to Abuja to file a fresh report with the police, and on February 26, the Nigeria Police Force Special Investigation Unit (NPF SIU) invited Onigah.
”I reported the matter in Lagos, the property is in Lagos, Omotola is in Lagos, but he went to the police in Abuja while ignoring the invitation in Lagos,” Onigah told FIJ. “I am not running. If the police in Abuja can get me to Abuja, I will honour their invitation.”
On Sunday, when FIJ called Omotola again to respond to Onigah’s claims, he said that he was in a meeting. FIJ then sent him a message via text and WhatsApp. At press time, Omotola had not responded, and he dropped subsequent calls to his number.