In a scene that has shocked many Nigerians and drawn deep concern over the state of justice and property rights in the country, a property belonging to Next Foods Limited—a company majority-owned by Ndibe Obi, younger brother to former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi—was violently invaded and partially demolished under highly suspicious circumstances.
It all began on Monday, June 23, 2025, when bulldozers rolled into 57 Oduduwa Crescent, Ikeja GRA, and started tearing down the building without prior notice to the owners. Shocked and distressed, Mr. Ndibe Obi, who had invested in the property since 2011 with no dispute or encumbrance for over a decade, made a frantic phone call to his elder brother.
En route to Abuja for a critical engagement, Peter Obi aborted his trip and flew back to Lagos the next morning. By 9:30 am on Tuesday, June 24, he arrived at the scene, only to find years of legitimate investment reduced to rubble. “How can this happen in a lawful society?” he asked, visibly shaken as he addressed the press after facing stiff resistance from individuals on the ground who were determined to silence the incident.
The murky legal process enabling demolition makes this ordeal even more painful. The demolition was purportedly based on a court order obtained by Deborah Olorunlogbon, who filed a case claiming ownership—but shockingly, the defendant in her suit was listed simply as an “unknown person.”
“How do you sue an unknown person over a known, developed property with a Certificate of Occupancy and valid ownership documents?” Obi asked, his voice trembling with indignation. “Can you see the rascality in this country? They sued a ghost and used that judgment to demolish a company’s legally owned property.”
Next Foods Limited’s lawyer, Barrister Emeka Okpoko, revealed that his team only became aware of the suit on Friday, June 20, just days before the demolition began. They immediately rushed to court to file applications for joinder and injunction, providing extensive documentation—a Deed of Assignment, Certificate of Occupation, and proof of purchase dating back to 2011, when the property was acquired for N280 million.
Okpoko said, “They never served us. They claimed they pasted a court process and took it down moments later to present fake evidence of service. We are in court now, fighting not just to stop this injustice, but to restore the dignity of due process in Nigeria.”
In a further twist that underscores the absurdity of the case, the longtime security guard, Babagana Abubakiri, who has watched over the property since 2011, was accused of “forcible entry” by the police on June 20 into a house he had legitimately protected for over 13 years.
This is not just about his family, but the nation’s soul for Peter Obi. “We’re crying to the world to see what is happening here. If people who’ve followed due process, paid legally for property, have valid documents, can be kicked out this way, then we are not safe—no Nigerian is.”
He called on the judiciary, the police, civil society, and all who still believe in justice to stand up and resist this creeping tyranny. “You cannot build a nation on impunity,” he said. “If this can happen to my brother, what will happen to the voiceless? To the struggling business owner with no connections? This is not about politics. This is about fairness, decency, and the sanctity of the law.”
Obi didn’t mince words about the larger implications. “We talk about attracting foreign investment, yet this is how we treat local investors who follow the law. This kind of lawlessness chases investment away. How can we convince the world we are ready for business when we treat property rights like a joke?”
The family has vowed to pursue every legal means to restore the property and hold the perpetrators accountable. But as the dust settles over the ruins on Oduduwa Crescent, one truth remains: this is more than a demolished building—it’s a brutal assault on trust, justice, and the idea of a safe Nigeria.
By Ikemefuna Ozobi
(Facebook)
