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Businessman kicks over contract, alleged property demolition

By Godwin Dunia
26 September 2017   |   4:15 am
A Lagos-based businessman and developer, Alhaji Hakeem Kosoko, has appealed to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa...

A Lagos-based businessman and developer, Alhaji Hakeem Kosoko, has appealed to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to intervene in what he described as manipulation of legal contract and unlawful demolition of his property located at 23, Breadfruit Street, Lagos, by agents of the State government.

The petitioner, through his counsel, S. A. Oshodi, stated that his company, Mulakee Holding Nigeria Limited was offered an authority to re-develop the said property by the Lagos State Government, in April 2015, but to his surprise, Lagos Ministry of Physical Planning, recently demolished the property.

“All the terms of agreement including the payment of the Premium of N3 million and consultancy fee of N1.5 million were paid into the coffers of the State government and Mulakee Holding commenced re-development of the area in line with specification and drawing of the authority and agreement,” Oshodi stated.

The counsel further stated that in July 2017, “our clients were served with a court process: No LD/5237LMW, in which the claimant, A.J. Missri & Company, claimed ownership of the said property, which prompted the filing of a statement of Defence and Counter Claim of possessory and contractual interest derived from the Lagos State government in the same property.

“While the matter is still pending in court, the Special Adviser, Urban Development, invited our clients to a meeting held in July 31, 2017, and advised to produced all documents relating to the development agreement”.

It was also alleged further that during the meeting, the Special Adviser did not check the documents, rather she boasted and said: “I will make sure that I demolish any structure you have erected there and put A.J.Missri in possession of the property. They have approached me and I have promised to give them back the property. I will instruct the Commissioner for Physical Planning to demolish the property immediately”.

In a bid to forestall her treat, the petitioner stated further that his counsel filed a fresh action Suit No. LD/548lMW/2017 between Mulakee Holdings Nigeria Ltd & Anor Vs. Lagos State Ministry for Physical Planning.

“Despite that the matter and an application for interlocutory injunction are pending in court, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and A.J. Missri, during the Sallah holidays in August pasted a letter signed by one Akin Tijani on the property stating that the ownership right of the property has been given to A.J. Missri,” he lawyer stated, adding that his clients edifice which already at the second floor has been brought down by a Lagos task force.

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