Get Guardian on GoogleA fresh controversy has erupted over the protracted Shangisha land dispute, as 546 judgment creditors have challenged the Lagos State Government over the issuance of a global Certificate of Occupancy covering 549 plots of land to Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and two associates, despite two substantive appeals pending before the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
The aggrieved landowners alleged that the allocation of the plots to the three individuals could undermine the interests of the other judgment creditors and prejudice the outcome of the ongoing appellate proceedings.
They also questioned the role of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, alleging that the issuance of the disputed title contradicted his earlier position before the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), where he reportedly stated that administrative action on the allocation had been suspended.
The dispute dates back to the Supreme Court’s 2012 judgment concerning the Shangisha Landlords Association. Following the judgment, the beneficiaries were expected to work with the Lagos State Government to determine an appropriate mechanism for its implementation.
However, disagreements reportedly emerged during subsequent negotiations when Adeyiga allegedly demanded that all 549 plots be allocated exclusively in his name and those of two associates.
The majority of the judgment creditors reportedly rejected the proposal, insisting that individual titles should be issued to the respective beneficiaries. Alternatively, they proposed that the land be allocated in the name of the Registered Trustees of the Shangisha Landlords Association for equitable distribution among bona fide members.
The individual beneficiaries also reportedly petitioned the Land Use and Allocation Committee, insisting on separate allocations. They said they had similarly communicated their position directly to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Efforts to resolve the disagreement reportedly collapsed during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, with the matter subsequently generating parallel legal proceedings that have continued under the present administration.
Two appeals arising from the dispute are currently pending before the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
The first, Appeal No. CA/L/1005M/2018, Chief Adebayo Adeyiga & Ors v. Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors, arose from an interlocutory ruling of the High Court restricting Adeyiga’s representation of the 549 judgment creditors to only six members.
Adeyiga, who had initially purported to represent all 549 beneficiaries, reportedly challenged the restriction before the appellate court. The appeal is yet to be determined.
The second appeal, CA/LAG/CV/117/2026, Mrs. Ogunsola Dawodu & Ors v. The Executive Governor of Lagos State & Anor, challenges the decision of Justice Lawal Alebiosu, who declined to order individual allocations or grant title to the Registered Trustees of the association.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the appellants approached the Court of Appeal and also filed an application for an interlocutory injunction.
The aggrieved landowners argued that issuing the disputed Certificate of Occupancy while the appeals remain pending raises serious questions about respect for judicial authority and the legal principle of lis pendens, which seeks to preserve disputed property and prevent actions that could undermine ongoing litigation.
The Attorney-General’s alleged involvement in the allocation process has also come under scrutiny following a petition submitted to the LPPC.
According to the petitioner, Pedro allegedly directed the Executive Secretary of the Land Use and Allocation Committee to issue title documents to Adeyiga’s faction.
In his response to the petition, however, the Attorney-General reportedly acknowledged issuing the directive but maintained that he subsequently ordered a suspension of administrative action on the Certificate of Occupancy.
In paragraph 17 of his response, Pedro stated:
“In response to paragraphs 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the complainant, the Respondent states that by reason of the frivolous action filed by the complainant in suit number ID/5391LM/2025, which was dismissed by the High Court, and his subsequent appeal from the decision of the High Court, the Executive Secretary, Land Use and Allocation Committee was directed to stay action on the grant of certificate of occupancy and thereby frustrated the implementation of the Supreme Court Judgment.”
The petitioner, however, questioned why the government proceeded with the issuance of the disputed global Certificate of Occupancy despite the Attorney-General’s reported acknowledgment that administrative action had been suspended.
The landowners argued that the development raised questions about the consistency of the government’s position and the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the title.
They have consequently called on the Lagos State Government to immediately revoke or suspend the disputed Certificate of Occupancy issued in favour of Adeyiga and his two associates.
They also demanded that all administrative dealings concerning the 549 plots be suspended pending the determination of the two appeals by the Court of Appeal.
The landowners maintained that the dispute should be resolved through the judicial process, warning that any administrative arrangement favouring a select group could undermine the proprietary interests of the other judgment creditors.
