Victor EzejaPresidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has lamented over what he described as unlawful demolition of his brother’s property in Lagos.
In a statement via his official X handle on Tuesday, Obi said the building located in Ikeja area of Lagos was pulled down without a valid demolition order, adding that the whole process reflects “coordinated lawlessness and impunity.”
Join our WhatsApp Channel“This morning (Tuesday), my youngest brother called me frantically, informing me that a group of people had invaded his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, and were demolishing the building,” Obi stated.
“He had just come in from Port Harcourt and was denied entry to the property by security men who told him the building was being pulled down. They even informed him that this demolition had started over the weekend.”
Obi said the brother immediately proceeded to file action in court, as he was unaware of what led to the demolition of the property owned by his company, which is registered.
Obi said he rushed to Lagos from Abuja after the call on Tuesday, and headed to where the property is located and met security personnel who attempted to deny him access, but he pleaded with them that the property belonged to his brother’s company, and from the records, the company had owned the property for over a decade.
“They told me they had a court judgment, and I immediately requested it. You would not believe that the court judgment they claim was issued against an unknown person, and squatters. I went further to ask about a demolition order or permit, and there was none,” Obi stated.
He queried why a court of law would issue a judgment in such a circumstance.
“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case? No one was served. No name was written. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying a structure that had stood for over 15 years.
“I immediately asked the excavators for the person who had sent them, and they said they didn’t know anyone, but they were only informed to come and demolish the house. I immediately told them to tell whoever it is that I would like to speak with them, if they can call my number, which I shared with the excavators, so that I can speak with whomever gave them the order to demolish the property.”
He said he stood there from 10 am to 2 pm, waiting for a response, but nobody called or came, and the contractor even said he didn’t know who sent him.
According to him, two men later came and said they would like them to go to a police station.
“I asked if they even had a demolition order, but they had nothing. The whole situation screamed of coordinated lawlessness and impunity. Our country has become lawless,” Obi further stated.
The former Anambra State governor reflected on the challenges Nigerians face in the hands of authorities enforcing the law, and asserted that any society where lawlessness thrives does not attract investors.
He said recent reports revealed that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened, noting that they “merely highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and basic living standards.”
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He said the state of lawlessness made him reminisce about a comment made by someone during a meeting over the weekend when the person said he has investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic, but will not bring it to Nigeria despite his market being in the country.
He said when he asked why such a decision, the person gave a piercing answer: “Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.”
Obi expressed shock on the level of lawlessness in the country and asked: “What kind of country are we trying to build when the rights of citizens, their lives, their properties, and their voices are trampled upon daily?”
He added that he has faced many challenges, including the abuse of his rights because he contested presidential election.
“So, I imagine what small business owners, regular citizens, and vulnerable communities face every day. If this level of lawlessness can happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate means, what hope does the ordinary Nigerian have?”
The former governor, however, reiterated his commitment to building a better Nigeria where lawlessness will be a stop, and protection of life, property, and respect for human rights, care for the less privileged, and basic education for all children would be prioritised.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
