The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has arraigned three defendants before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over allegations of forgery, land grabbing, and unlawful property takeover in the Government Reserved Area (GRA).
The defendants - Julius Eshiet, Al-Trade Agencies Limited, and Alabi Collins (a serving director at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development) - appeared before Justice Idowu of High Court 55, Ikeja, facing a 13-count charge.
The case, which was heard on Tuesday, involves a disputed property located at Block C, Plots 30 and 37, No. 6 Ajisafe Street, GRA, Ikeja. Prosecution counsel Rotshang Dimka informed the court that the proceedings stemmed from a petition filed on July 1, 2024, by Viagem Property and Investment Limited.
According to court documents, Viagem accused the defendants of trespass, forgery of legal documents, malicious destruction, and unlawful occupation of the property. The company claims to have acquired the 9,425-square-yard parcel of land in 2019 through legitimate transactions that can be traced back to 1961.
The petition detailed how in 2021, the defendants allegedly arrived with thugs and individuals posing as police officers to forcefully eject Viagem's staff and take control of the valuable GRA property.
Police investigations reportedly confirmed that Viagem and its predecessors, including Western Metal Products Company Limited (WEMPCO), had consistently paid land use charges to the Lagos State Government. Investigators found no evidence to support the defendants' claims that the land belonged to the Federal Government.
At Tuesday's proceedings, Justice Idowu adjourned the case to Friday, September 12, 2025, for continuation of hearing. The court ordered that defendant Julius Eshiet be remanded at the Lagos State Police Command, while Collins' legal representative requested an adjournment citing medical grounds.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges with property disputes and land grabbing in Lagos State, particularly in prime areas like Ikeja GRA, where property values have skyrocketed in recent years.
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