The new owner of the disputed one-acre land on Gasikiya College Road in Ijora-Badia, Lagos, Omopariola Adeleye, has justified the demolition of 35 shanty shops on the property.

Adeleye also debunked allegations by Taiwo Alonge-Lawrence, a member of the late Chief Olatunde Lawrence’s family, that the demolition was illegal, saying proper notices were issued to the tenants.

Displaying his purchase documents before journalists, Adeleye insisted that he lawfully acquired the land, gave shop occupants ample notice to vacate, and never demanded or collected a dime from them since taking ownership in 2022.

Alonge-Lawrence had raised an alarm of alleged land grabbing following the September 4, 2025, demolition, stating that it was carried out by suspected land grabbers in connivance with officials of the Lagos State government.

He accused them of taking the law into their hands by approving the demolition despite, according to him, his lawyer submitting documents to prove ownership of the land.

But Adeleye dismissed the claims, stressing that the transaction was valid and properly documented.

“I purchased the property through an agent, Lara, who introduced me to a member of the family, Kehinde Da-Costa Lawrence. He presented all the necessary documents, including the deed of sale, the letter of administration, and other supporting papers confirming that the land had been sold to me. After we signed the agreement, I commenced work on the site,” he said.

He said trouble began when Alonge-Lawrence surfaced, claiming the land had not been sold even though payment had already been made.

“Surprised, I reached out to the family that sold the land to me. They directed me to their lawyer, George Itunin of Park View, who also represents the family’s first son, Dr Dapo, who lives abroad, along with some of the sisters. The matter was resolved,” he explained.

Adeleye further maintained that before the demolition, quit notices were duly served on the occupants to vacate the shops in order for construction work to commence.

“Most of them ignored the notice after a counter-message instructed them not to move out. Yet the notices, copies of which were issued in March and April 2025, were clear,” he said.

Corroborating, the Baale of Oridilu, Gasikiya, Chief Lateef Olatunji, said: “As the traditional head, Adeleye informed me that he purchased several acres of land in Gasikiya Estate, a transaction confirmed by Baba Gasikiya’s son, Kehinde, who admitted selling his share of the property to him. Trouble only began when he sought to take control of the shops built along the fence of the land he bought, and one of Baba Gasikiya’s sons objected.”

Similarly, the daughter of one of the former administrators of the estate, Aduke Olapade, said: “For clarity, my father and two others were administrators of the Gasikiya estate. At some point, because of age, my father relinquished his role to the owner’s eldest son, Kehinde, who lives abroad. He (Kehinde) sold part of the estate, including those shops willed to him by his late father. The lawyers informed tenants to stop paying rent into the estate’s account and instead pay the new owner.

“It was after the demolition that tenants realised the land actually belonged to Mr Adeleye, who had legally purchased it from my cousin, Kehinde Lawrence. The transaction was perfected by lawyers, and documents were signed. The shops fell within the portion of land sold to Adeleye. So, this matter is not about force or illegality; it is about documented ownership. The family is aware of it.”

Meanwhile, some displaced traders are still hanging around the demolished site to sell their wares in the open as they search for alternative shops.

Lamenting, a caterer, Basirat Saidu, said: “We were told the property had been sold, but we never met the buyer face-to-face. I have paid N60,000 for one year, not to the estate’s account or the new owner’s but to Taiwo, only for our shops to be demolished. Now I bake outside in the open, borrowing space from another trader when it rains. I can’t sell drinks or zobo anymore because there’s nowhere to keep my freezer. My income has dropped badly.”

Another trader, Olumide Adeleke, who managed to secure another shop close by for his barbing salon, said: “When I heard the property had been sold, I quickly arranged for this shop. It may not be as big as I wanted, but it is manageable. Many others weren’t that lucky; they are still stranded.”

However, a resident, identified only as Rilwan, stated that Adeleye made efforts to cushion the traders’ losses.

“He asked them for account numbers to compensate them, but they refused. He also invited them through his lawyer to a meeting, yet they still refused to attend. What else was he supposed to do?”