Chief Akindele Adamakin, the Sole Power of Attorney to the estate of the late Madam Efunroye Tinubu, has warned members of the public against purchasing any property on the disputed 8.994-acre land at Akobi Crescent, off Fashoro Lane, Surulere, Lagos, saying those selling the properties have no legal authority to do so.
Speaking during a press conference, Adamakin said the land has already been the subject of a final judgment by the High Court of Lagos State, which declared the Tinubu family the lawful owners of the property. He described the continued sale of buildings and parcels of land within the estate as illegal, deceptive and a calculated attempt to defraud unsuspecting buyers.
According to him, individuals still offering the properties for sale are knowingly disposing of assets that do not belong to them, warning that any person who enters into such transactions risks losing both the property and the money paid for it.
He said it was disturbing that years after the court settled the ownership dispute, some people continue to act in defiance of the judgment by presenting themselves as owners and executing transactions that have no legal backing.
Adamakin noted that the development goes beyond a simple land dispute, arguing that it represents a dangerous challenge to the rule of law and the authority of Nigerian courts.
“No society can thrive where people deliberately ignore valid court judgments and continue to profit from unlawful acts,” he said, adding that respect for judicial decisions is essential to maintaining peace, order and confidence in the nation’s legal system.
The warning is rooted in a legal battle that lasted several years over ownership of the Surulere property measuring approximately 8.994 acres.
The dispute culminated in Suit No. M/294/2010 before the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division, where retired Colonel Tunde Oyedele sought judicial recognition of his claim to the land based on a Deed of Conveyance dated February 3, 1976.
Members of the Tinubu family, led by Tajudeen Ademola Toriola and other defendants, challenged that claim, insisting that the property remained part of the estate of the late Madam Efunroye Tinubu and that the document relied upon by the retired military officer was incapable of transferring valid ownership.
During the trial, evidence was presented showing that on September 23, 2007, homes occupied by members of the Tinubu family and other occupants on the land were demolished after retired Colonel Oyedele allegedly led police officers to the property without first obtaining lawful eviction orders.
The court heard that photographs of the demolished buildings were tendered as evidence, while the affected occupants also pursued legal action over the demolition, maintaining that their constitutional rights had been violated.
Delivering judgment on October 31, 2013, Justice O. Atinuke Ipaye declared the 1976 Deed of Conveyance invalid, null and void, ordered its cancellation at the Lagos Lands Registry and awarded damages against the retired military officer for trespass arising from the unlawful demolition.
The judgment effectively brought an end to the ownership dispute and affirmed the Tinubu family’s legal rights over the property.
Years later, the judgment was enforced and the Tinubu family formally took possession of the land, which is believed to contain more than 50 buildings, after no successful appeal overturned the decision.
Despite that outcome, Adamakin alleged that certain individuals have continued to market and dispose of properties within the estate as though the court judgment never existed.
He urged intending buyers, property developers, estate agents, banks and other stakeholders in the real estate sector to carry out proper title verification before committing funds to any transaction involving the area.
According to him, no valid title can pass from someone who has already lost ownership through a court judgment, making every purported sale by unauthorized persons legally defective.
Adamakin also called on security agencies and relevant government institutions to investigate those allegedly behind the transactions and prevent innocent Nigerians from becoming victims of fraudulent land deals.
He reaffirmed that the Tinubu family remains committed to protecting its interests strictly through lawful means and advised anyone approached with offers to purchase property within the estate to first confirm the ownership status through the appropriate legal channels.
He added that the continued disregard for binding court decisions threatens not only legitimate property owners but also the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system, insisting that the rule of law must prevail over personal interests.