A group of property purchasers at Richmond Pearl Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, who bought from Haven Global Resources Limited (also known as Haven Homes) and had completed payment of the purchase price, are fighting to prevent Haven Homes from charging them an inflated service charge of N10 million before being given possession of their properties.

When the purchasers asked Haven Homes for a meeting to explain the inflated service charge, Haven Homes responded with a letter increasing the amount to N14 million and threatening to sell the property if the money was not received within seven days.

The purchasers, represented by Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, brought their application for an ex parte injunction, in the first instance, before  Justice O. Atinuke Ipaye in Suit No. LD/7841/2024 who saw it fit to grant the injunction.

A restraining order was granted preventing Haven Global Resources Limited (Haven Homes) and its CEO, Sotayo Sonuga, their agents, servants and/or privies from “re-allocating, re-selling or selling the units, flats, apartments and blocks” of the purchasers and directing the defendants/respondents not to part with possession of the various units, flats, apartments purchased by the claimants to any third parties”.

Parties then moved to file other applications.  Haven Homes and Mr. Sonuga sought to have the ex parte injunction lifted as well as have a gag order placed on the claimants to prevent them from speaking to the press on the issue, claiming defamation and libel. The purchasers sought to obtain an interlocutory injunction to preserve the subject matter of the suits until a determination of the case.

When the applications came up for hearing, Justice Ipaye presiding over the matter at the Lagos State High Court, refused Haven Homes’ and Sonuga’s application to set aside the ex parte order granted earlier in favour of the purchasers.  The court also refused to grant Haven Homes’ application to seek to gag the purchasers from speaking to media outlets about their plight.

The court also reemphasized and extended the life of the restraining orders against Haven Homes and Sonuga. Speaking to the gulf in the position of the parties, Justice Ipaye felt it was appropriate to give an order for accelerated hearing of the dispute.

After granting the orders, the judge, although outside of the orders made on the day, admonished Haven Homes’ counsel to advise his clients not to resort to self-help and to ensure the orders of the court are not violated or treated with levity.  The matter is continuing at the Lagos State High Court.