By Akeem Oduyoye
A long-running dispute over the ownership of a large expanse of land in Akodo, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, has prompted a strong warning to members of the public, especially prospective land buyers. Traditional leaders and members of the Oba Olumoye Oniwonlu Abejoye Royal Family have cautioned that the land remains under serious legal contention in several Lagos High Courts.
The warning was issued in a joint statement signed by the Alakodo of Ibeju Land, HRM Oba Abdul-Hakeem Olokodano, alongside Prince Kehinde Jamiu Hassan, Prince Nojibu Idowu Hassan and Prince Balogun Olalekan. They advised buyers to exercise caution, stressing that purchasing any portion of Akodo land at this time carries high risk due to unresolved court cases.
According to the statement, the Oba Olumoye Oniwonlu Abejoye Royal Family maintains that it is the original owner of Akodo land. The family said ownership of the land is still being contested in court and has not been finally determined, contrary to claims being circulated by other parties.
The dispute involves at least 16 families and several real estate companies, all laying claim to different parts of Akodo land. Some of the families mentioned include the Ogbeni, Kejibo-Elejide, Ogunlaja, Abdullahi Baba Egbe, Oluwo, Eruobodo and Ijabejo families.
The land crisis dates back many decades and is linked to old Supreme Court judgments delivered in 1925 and 1928, which covered areas such as Tiye, Imobido and Eemu/Erumu. Despite these historic rulings, ownership issues remain unresolved due to overlapping claims and fresh legal actions.
Several cases are currently before Lagos State High Courts. One of them, Suit No. EPD/8283/LMW/2019, was filed by descendants of Oba Olumoye Oniwonlu Abejoye against multiple families and real estate firms, challenging their claims to Akodo land.
Although a Court of Appeal judgment in an earlier case appeared to favour the Ogbeni family and others, the matter was later resolved through a consent judgment that declared the land communal and shared ownership between the Ogbeni family and the Akodo Community. However, the Oba Olumoye family insists that the agreement does not apply to them because they were not parties to it.
The Oba Olumoye family has also joined other ongoing suits filed by different families to press counterclaims over the entire Akodo land, including parts known as Igi Aba Village Excision.
They further accused some individuals and groups of misleading the public by presenting incomplete court decisions as final proof of ownership, while ignoring pending cases. The family said the breakdown of earlier peace arrangements has also led to clashes involving land grabbers.
A legal analyst, Kunle Alabi, warned that buying land under dispute is extremely risky, explaining that any transaction carried out while a case is still in court can later be cancelled by a final judgment.
The Oba Olumoye Oniwonlu Abejoye Royal Family reiterated that Akodo land ownership is still before the courts and urged buyers to stay away until the cases are fully resolved. They warned that anyone who ignores the advice risks losing their money and may eventually be removed from the land by the rightful owners.