The Lagos State Government has resolved the land dispute between RevolutionPlus Property Limited, a real estate firm, and its customer, Kayode Oladipo.
The state in a statement by Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), Adeoti Shobowale, said the dispute, triggered by a viral video highlighting Oladipo’s claim of non-allocation for 20 purchased plots, has now been settled with an agreement for the allocation of five plots at Amazon Estate, Epe.
Oladipo, a Nigerian residing abroad, accused RevolutionPlus Real Estate and its Managing Director, Bamidele Onalaja, of scamming him of N40million.
Oladipo said he paid the money to the firm in 2017, following which he was supposed to be allocated 20 plots of land by the company.
He therefore urged government to intervene, threatening suicide, and saying that he is sleeping outside under the snow and wants to come back to Nigeria but does not have a house to go back to.
Following the video going viral, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, directed LASRERA to commence an investigation into the issue.
“Following the governor’s directive, the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Gbolahan Toriola, on Friday, invited the management of RevolutionPlus Limited who was led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr.Bamidele Onalaja, for fact-finding,” the statement read.
The Commissioner for Housing, said the information-gathering process by top government officials, would help find lasting solutions to frequent reports of fraudulent practices in the state’s real sector and protect the interests of investors and investees in real estate business transactions in Lagos State.
Odunuga-Bakare recalled that before the viral video made by Oladipo, there had been some concerns raised by members of the public about the conduct of RevolutionPlus Property Limited among some of its subscribers.
“The members of the investigation team reiterated the resolve of the state government to investigate the allegation against RevolutionPlus Limited in line with LASRERA Law 2022,” the statement said.
According to the team, LASRERA Law 2022 empowered the agency to investigate petitions and complaints from members of the public to protect and promote sanity as well as boost further investors’ confidence both at home and abroad for the sector in Lagos State.
The Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Bamidele Onalaja, confirmed that Oladipo subscribed for 20 plots of land from RevolutionPlus Property Limited at Dallas Court, Lekki and Royalty Gardens, Ajah, in Lagos State.
According to him, two out of the original 20 plots were fully paid for by the client, while the necessary documentation has been completed and handed over to him.
He said the remaining 18 plots of that land had not been fully paid by the complainant, stressing that he flouted the payment agreement on the contract.
“Property not fully paid for with its associated costs will not be processed based on contract conditions because, in case of non-compliance, the company policy requires the relocation of such subscriber to another site upon completion of payment or refund of the deposited sum less than 40 per cent.
“Having defaulted in his payment pattern, RevolutionPlus Property Limited relocated him to another land site at Amazon Estate, Epe, which he declined while the option of refunding the sum advanced was also rejected by the complainant,” he said.
Onalaja stated that the firm had finalised the allocation of five plots to Oladipo at Amazon Estate based on the payment made and the necessary documents forwarded to him.
The real estate boss said Oladipo did not make a payment of N40million to the company as claimed in the viral video, telling the public to disregard his claims as untrue and misleading.
According to the statement, in the course of the committee’s investigation, Oladipo, who was contacted on the phone, maintained that he paid the deposit N18,606,000 to RevolutionPlus Property Limited in 2017.
He said along the way, he lost his job and couldn’t continue with the payment as he initially agreed.
He disclosed that he declined the option of relocation to Amazon Estate, Epe, in Lagos State, and wants the state government to compel RevolutionPlus Property Limited to allocate his subscribed plots of land to him.
The Investigation Committee explained to the complainant that, having defaulted in his payment arrangement, the real estate company had the right to offer the option of relocation to another site equivalent to the money paid or the option of a refund of the amount paid less 40 per cent as stipulated in the agreed contract of sales by both parties.
The statement said: “It should be noted that after the deliberations by the investigation team, Oladipo has agreed to accept the allocation of five plots of land at Amazon Estate, Epe of Lagos State which is equivalent to the present value of his payment.”
