Allottees of Alaka Estate have called on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene in an alleged illegal construction by the Managing Director of the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) PLC, Olusola Faleye, and his contractors on Block 130 and 131 of the estate.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the allottees, through their solicitors Samuel Shodipo and Associates, condemned the actions of LBIC, accusing its leadership of wrongful appropriation of their properties.
Illegal Construction Sparks Outrage
The allottees expressed dismay that despite existing agreements, LBIC and private developers forcefully took over the land on February 8, 2025, without the consent of the legal owners.
“It is disheartening to see LBIC disregard protocol, civility, and fundamental property rights as enshrined in Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), by demolishing our properties and commencing illegal construction without due consultation,” the allottees stated.
They demanded that the LBIC MD revert to the original agreement with legal property owners and ensure any development is properly negotiated and documented before proceeding.
LBIC Accused of Breaching Agreement
The aggrieved allottees also accused Lagos State Government officials of igniting a crisis and reneging on a previous agreement reached on December 16, 2024.
“Following the demolition, a meeting was held with the MD of LBIC on December 16, 2024, where he acknowledged the rights of the legal owners after they presented their allocation letters,” they said.
The MD reportedly advised them to consolidate their position and return for further discussions, but instead of following due process, LBIC went ahead with the unauthorized development.
Sanwo-Olu’s Initial Commitment Ignored
The allottees recalled that Governor Sanwo-Olu had personally engaged them in 2019, assuring them that the flood-damaged buildings would be demolished and reconstructed, with the original owners retaining their rights to the new structures.
However, they alleged that LBIC later demolished the property on November 28, 2024, without their involvement, raising fears of a forceful takeover.
Call for Urgent Intervention
The allottees called on President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to intervene and prevent what they described as a blatant act of land grabbing.
They insisted that LBIC and its cronies should be stopped from overriding the rights of legitimate property owners, urging the Lagos State Government to uphold justice and fairness in the matter.
